RAJASTHAN

The registration fee for converting agricultural land into non-agricultural land by 75% under the campaign ‘Prashasan Saharo Ke Sang’. The exemption will be applicable to colonies that were notified on or before March 31, 2019. This will make conversion cheaper for families who have been living on agricultural land of up to 300 sqm during the period of the campaign.

The fee has been reduced to Rs 50 per sqm for land up to 300 sqm under the ; Rs 75 per sqm and Rs 100 per sqm if the land comes under municipal council and corporation, respectively.

At present, the fee for registering 300 sqm of land will cost between Rs 90 and Rs 384 in various areas. The high fee has been preventing people from registering the land, forcing the government to lower it. This will also encourage residents living on these lands to convert them into non-residential lands. The conversion will allow them and the local administration to carry out welfare schemes, said the official press statement.

The scheme is applicable for one-time payment along with paying Rs 500 for the map to acquire a freehold land deed. Other than revising the registration fees, other taxes and fees too have been waived by the state.

To promote and encourage social work, the government has given 100% exemption to charitable organisations converting agricultural land into non-agricultural land. Gehlot directed officials to inform the public on exemptions and waivers made by the government.

According to a finance department order, hotels and tour operators will get refunds for state GST (SGST) paid by them from October 2020 to June 2021.

The beneficiaries will be entitled to reimbursement of 50% of SGST during the October 2020-March 2021 and 75% during April-June 2021.

Under the Mukhyamantri Paryatan Udyog Sambal Yojana, tourism units will get 9% interest subsidy on loans up to Rs 25 lakh. These loans will be for three years and applications will be allowed up to March 2022.

The scheme will be part of the existing Mukhyamantri Laghu Udhyog Protsahan Yojana (MLUPY) and will be governed by the norms of MLUPY.

Bars in hotels and clubs have also been exempted from licence fees on extra counters, which will be entitled to 10% exemption of fees.

Last year, the had offeredSGST relieffor the April-September period. But the Industry did not benefit because there was almost no business and the tax obligations were miniscule.

As per the figures, the department has earned a revenue of Rs 4,685 crore between April and August. This is Rs 1,374 crore higher than the previous fiscal year 2020-21 and Rs 1,031 crore higher than 2019-2000. In April, the department earned highest revenue of Rs 1,156 crore.

After making amendments in the policy (2021- 2022), the excise department organised the e-auction for the first time, instead of allotting shops through lottery.
Under the new policy, Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country-made liquor both are being sold in the same shop. In phase-1 on Wednesday, 3,262 bidders participated to bid for 1,669 shops including 81 from Jaipur.

For the benefit of working and retired employees of thestate government, an employee welfare fund will be formed with an amount of Rs 3,000 crore for the operation of various schemes.

From this fund, other schemes will be operated for employee welfare, including Health Insurance, housing, higher studies andvehicle loanand Scholarship for children of the employees.

As per the proposal, this fund will be operated by the director, insurance department. A new budget item will be opened and the process of approval of schemes under the fund will be determined separately, said the government.

According to the proposal, through this fund, the new schemes that will be implemented for the welfare of serving and retired workers in the state, include contribution toRajasthanGovernment Health Scheme (RGHS), housing loan, loan for higher studies. personal loans, vehicle loans, crches in offices for working Women and meritorious scholarship schemes for children of low-salaried workers.

Distribution of food packets under the Chief MinisterAnnapurna Yojanamight get delayed for at least one to one-and-a-half month. Officials of the cooperative department stated that the delay is taking place as a senior official of the department went on leave and was then transferred shortly after he joined.

We had floated two different tenders for this project. However, there are certain technical issues with one of the tenders. We could not change it because a senior official, authorized to issue tender, was on leave. He joined on Monday and was transferred on the same day. We have to wait until a new official takes charge, said a senior official ofRajasthanState Cooperative Consumer Federation Limited (CONFED).

CM Gehlot had increased thebudgetfor this scheme by Rs 1,700 crore during hisbudget speech.

As the country is staring at an impending third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the has already started preparing itself to face the situation.
The state government has decided to strengthen 300-400 community Health centres (CHCs) across the state. Apart from increasing the number of beds, each bed will be linked with an Oxygen cylinder or concentrator. Also, ICU facilities with ventilators would be set up in all the CHCs.

The CHCs will be equipped with oxygen cylinders, concentrators, oxygen Plants (in bigger CHCs) and medicines for children. A core team has been formed by the health department to prepare the plan. Medicines and equipment have been identified for the CHCs and the process of procurement has already started.

The states rural development department has launched a Vrikshmala riverbank conservation campaign under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural EMPLOYMENT Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to promote water conservation and sustainable Environment.

Under the campaign, five rivers Banas, Luni, Parvati, Kali Sindh and Chambal have been selected, the banks of which will be used for intensive plantation drive.

As many as 48 sites in 20 districts have been identified for the plantation drive. Intensive plantation will be done on a hectare of land on riverbanks under this campaign. On the site being on the riverbank, the survival chances of plans will increase, said EGS superintendent engineer Arvind Saxena.
Moreover, under MGNREGA, 60% focus will be given to individual category work and 40% to group work. Under this initiative, will be promoted in the individual category work. Of the total work under the individual category, 20% work will be dedicated to horticulture plantation, he said.

Till now,Rajasthanhas generated 1.57 crore persondays under the scheme. A labour budget of 20 crore was approved for this financial year. The central government has extended the deadline for Aadhaar-based payment of wages to workers till June 30. Earlier the deadline was extended up to March 31.

Thestate cabinetapproved the draft of the New Women Policy, 2021, for the overall development of women andgirls.

The policy will help to establish better coordination between various departments for the welfare of women and girls while ensuring their safety and empowering them.

Thecabinetalso approved theRajasthan Tourism Business(Facilitation and Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2021, for selection, training and licencing of new tourist guides. This will enable the entry of trained and skilled guides into the tourism and create 6,000 self-EMPLOYMENT opportunities. As per the new rules, aspirants only require minimum educational qualification and do not have to undergo an interview.

The age limit for selection has been relaxed and there are provisions for reservation, bonus points, training among other changes.

To increase employment opportunities in the tourism sector, the cabinet also approved aGuest HouseScheme under theRajasthanTourism Policy, 2020. The scheme will be applicable in all urban areas of Rajasthan, and enables prospective entrepreneurs to provide accommodation facilities to tourists at their homes.

The maximum number of rooms for such a guest house has been fixed at 20. The owner or lessee of the residence will be required to reside in the guest house with the family. This scheme will be different from the Paying Guest Scheme of the tourism department.

T Ravikanth, principal secretary of theindustries and commerce department, andRIICO MDArchana Singh met senior central officials to seek support for two flagship projects.

The state has submitted a concept note for a MITRA park at Jodhpur and will be formally submitting a project proposal shortly. Both senior officials also met the Union secretary, department of chemicals and petrochemicals, who assured support to the proposedPetroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Regionat Pachpadra.

The state cabinet on Wednesday approved theRajasthan Control of Organized Crime Bill, 2023, with stringent provisions.

The cabinet noted that the nature of crime has changed in recent years and criminals have now formed gangs to carry out crimes while there is no special law to deal with such crimes in the state.

The Bill has made a provision for death or life imprisonment in case of death caused by a criminal gang, and a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh. Those who indulge in criminal conspiracy and give shelter to gang members will invite a minimum of five-year jail term and a maximum of life term and a minimum Rs 5 lakh penalty. Those who acquired wealth through organized crime may invite a minimum of three-year jail term and a maximum of a life sentence and a minimum fine of Rs 2 lakh.

The Bill also makes a provision for special courts for the trial of such cases. The trials will be held in closed courts, and witnesses identities will be kept secret. There is a provision for seizure or demolition of property acquired through organized crime.