RAJASTHAN

The fund for each legislator has been raised from Rs. 2.25 crore to Rs. 5 crore per year to cover expenses.

This is the state version of the central government scheme – Member of the Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD).

The aim of the scheme is to build based on local needs, create assets for public utilities, and eliminate regional imbalances in development.

The scheme is implemented in rural and urban areas in a state.

This scheme does not provide any funds to MLAs. It is transferred directly to the appropriate local authorities by the government.

Each state has its own set of rules for using MLA-LAD funds.

Rajasthan passed a landmarkRight to Health(RTH) Bill under which privatehospitalswill not be able to charge emergency patients and will be compensated by the state a controversial provision according to such hospitals and doctors who continued protests against the move for the second day and were later joined by government doctors.

Right to health is fundamental to a modern welfare state. But often there are financial considerations that prevent it from happening. Rajasthan has taken a bold step. But the schemes success will depend on how it is implemented on the ground. Other states will be closely watching.

Startup ecosystem is set to add heft with the chief minister announcing Rs 250 crore to support them. Presenting theBudget, Gehlot saidRajasthan Fund will be given Rs 250 crore to handhold the startups.

Besides the fund, they will also enjoy exemption on stamp duty applicable on loan documents executed for the establishment of start-up. The amount has been raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Stamp duty on purchase or lease above 10 years of immovable property for the establishment of workplace by a startup where founding member or members are of the age group of 18 to 35 years will be exempted.
The limit of single source procurement without tender through startups is raised to Rs 25 lakh from the current limit of Rs 15 lakh.

The startup policy recently announced by the State Government has many provisions to encourage Entrepreneurship and support the ventures financially and otherwise.

The states food and civil supplies department has sent a proposal to food ministerPratap SinghKhachariyawas for approval to allow registration of more beneficiaries under theNational Act(NFSA) in urban areas, where the number of beneficiaries is less compared to rural areas.

A proposal has been sent to the minister with a suggestion to open registration of NFSA beneficiaries with urban areas in the state.

With the ceiling for adding NFSA beneficiaries in the state being 4.46 crore, the State Government can still add 5-6 lakh more.

The has given relaxation to the developers constructing affordable houses under the public private PARTNERSHIP (PPP) mode in the state.

The decision was taken after the pace to construct affordable houses including economic weaker section (EWS) and lower income group (LIG) slowed down due to existing policies, which became a hindrance in achieving a target of 4,200 houses.

The department will take a loan of Rs 200 crore to complete these projects. While Rs 160 crore will be spent to construct the pending 19,244 houses under Jan Awas Yojana, Rs 40 crore will be spent for constructing 4,112 affordable houses.

The financial progress of state-run schemes likeMEWAT,MAGRAand DANG has been quite poor, arural development departmentreport has revealed.
According to the report, only 5.14% (Rs 1.68 crore) of the total available funds – Rs 32.85 crore – was utilised under MEWAT (up to October 2022). While 5.22% of the total available funds was utilised in Alwar, 4.89% was used in Bharatpur district.

Under DANG, only 8.37% (Rs 2.08 crore) of the total available funds – Rs 24.94 crore – was utilised by the department up to October this year. According to the report, there was zero spending in Bharatpur and Bundi districts under the scheme. While just 0.23% of the total available funds was utilised in Baran, 0.76% in Kota, 1.95% in Jhalawar, 5.59% in Karauli and 9.42% of the total funds was utilised in Dholpur. However, in Sawai Madhopur, the utilisation of funds was 49.12% till October.

Meanwhile, under MAGRA scheme, 14.67% (Rs 3.93 crore) of the total available funds – Rs 26.81 crore – was utilised by the rural development department up to October this year. The report further stated 10.40% of the total available funds was utilised in Rajsamand, 11.29% in Pali district, 14.23% in Bhilwara and 22.91% in Ajmer district. However, Chittorgarhs financial progress exceeded the use of its available funds, having utilised 117% of the total funds, the report mentioned.

However, the financial progress of schemes like BADP (42.20% expenditure) andSPMRM(78.47% expenditure) has been comparatively much better, the report stated.

The government is all set to boost the states emergency response Services by adding 917 ambulances, including 267 new basic life support (BLS), 125 advanced life support (ALS), and 45 motorcycle ambulances.

The motorcycle ambulances will be a part of the new agreement between the and a private firm, GVK-EMRI, for running the government ambulances services.
The state government and GVK-EMRI have signed a pact to run a total of 917 ambulances. Earlier, the state government had only 34 ALS ambulances.

Ambulances under the 108 emergency response services run by the state government remain available 24×7 free of charge for the people who need ambulances to reach hospitals. The 108 ambulances services will be known as the Chiranjeevi Ambulance Yojana, which is expected to revolutionise the emergency care scenario in the state.

Power ministerBhanwar Singh Bhation Monday launched the Saur Krishi Aajeevika Yojana (SKAY) scheme portal to facilitate farmers to install solar Plants on their barren or underutilised land.

Under the (SKAY) scheme, farmers can give their barren land on lease to set up solar plants, which would help them elevate their living standards. The new online portal will be a platform where farmers and landowners can register their land to give on lease.

As Rajasthans solar generation potential has been assessed at 142 Gw. After launching the scheme, the is eyeing at a target of target of 30 Gw by 2024-25. The aim is to increase solar-energy generation and make Rajasthan a green-energy state.

The state government claims a full proof system has been established to safeguard the rights and assured landowners to participate in the scheme.