Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced on Friday that the subsidy of Rs 5 per litre for milk producers in Maharashtra will be extended, as he presented the state’s budget for 2024-25 in the legislative assembly. This budget marks the final one before the assembly elections for the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government. Pawar also stated that the state plans to establish 18 new medical colleges.
Milk Producer Subsidies
Pawar further mentioned that Rs 223.83 crore in subsidies have already been disbursed to 2.93 lakh registered milk producers at the rate of Rs 5 per litre. He assured that the remaining subsidy will be distributed promptly.
Finance Minister Ajit Pawar also announced plans to introduce initiatives promoting sheep and poultry farming, along with allocating sufficient funds for the development of fish markets. Additionally, a new program named ‘Gaon tithe godam’ (godown in every village) will be rolled out to offer storage facilities for agricultural produce. Pawar, who also serves as the deputy chief minister, stated that the first phase will include the construction of 100 new godowns and the refurbishment of existing ones.
Financial Assistance for Women
Financial assistance will be provided to 10,000 women across 17 cities for purchasing e-rickshaws and Rs 80 cr will be made available for this “pink e-rickshaw” scheme, he said.
Farmer Support
A total of 92.43 lakh farmer families were given grant-in-aid of Rs 5,318.47 crore under the Namo Shetkari Sanman Nidhi Yojana announced last year, Pawar said.
Further, Rs 3,504.66 crore were disbursed to 59.57 lakh farmers under the one rupee crop insurance scheme, the minister informed. Approval has been given to establish government medical colleges with intake capacity of 100 students along with 430-bed hospitals in 18 districts, he said.
Ayurveda Colleges
A Unani medical college will be set up in Raigad while an Ayurveda college will be established in Buldhana district, he said.
