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- Delhi’s 2015-16 annual budget on Thursday. Photo: PTI New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government took a step to delivering on its election promise with its first budget focusing on education as a key priority. In the run up to election, the AAP had released a 70-point agenda focusing on education, health, women security and governance.
- The government on Thursday more than doubled the allocation for education in the budget for the year to next 31 March and refrained from imposing any new taxes.
- The government’s total budget for the current fiscal year was estimated at Rs.41,129 crore.
- This included plan expenditure of Rs.19,000 crore and Rs.22,129 crore of non-plan expenditure.
- The total estimate is Rs.3,731 crore more than the Rs.37,769 crore approved in March through a vote on account.
- The largest proposed expenditure of Rs.9,836 crore has been made for education. “This is 106% more than the last financial year’s plan expenditure of Rs.2,219 crore. This in itself is a proof of the priority given by the government to education” said deputy chief minister and finance minister Manish Sisodia in his 140-minute budget speech.
- The government allocated Rs.4,787 crore for the improvement of health services.
- The Delhi Arogya Kosh has been revised to make it more citizen friendly.
- The revised eligibility criteria now make persons having annual family income upto Rs 3 lakh eligible for benefits under the scheme.
- Moreover, a single window system has been operationalized for the scheme.
- A Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and Comprehensive Health card for public are in process.
- During the dengue epidemic of 2015, 50 specialized fever/dengue clinics were established to screen and manage dengue cases.
- The education budget has been doubled in AAP's first Delhi budget to occupy the largest share.
- The health budget has also been increased by around 50%, reflecting the government's prioritization of citizens' basic needs such as education, healthcare and transport.