Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya presents a Rs 3.39 lakh cr budget for 2023-24

Among the several big-ticket announcements, the budget speech this time suggested measures to support start-ups, the manufacturing industry and rural connectivity.

The Budget was announcement of a hike in DA to 3 per cent and the West Bengal government's extension of stamp duty rebate till September 3, 2023.

Bhattacharya announced that Mamata Banerjee Govt will give an additional 3 per cent DA for State Government Employees, Retirees.

The 3 per cent DA will be implemented from March.

She announced Rs 350-cr startup fund to extend up to Rs 5 lakh each to young entrepreneurs. She added that Bengal's SGDP is projected to grow at 8.4 per cent, industry at 7.8 per cent in 2022-23 fiscal.

Bhattacharya said that agricultural income tax on tea gardens for 2023-24 and 2024-25 will be waived.

In order to boost last-mile connectivity, the state Finance Minister announced that 12,500-km of rural roads to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

“Rs 3000 crore has been allocated for road construction and maintenance in the 'Rasta Shree' project,” said Bhattacharya in budget announcement.

She said 1.88 crore women will be included in Lakshmi Bhandar project.

After crossing 60 years, they will get old age allowance.

Bhattacharya said State Government's Lakshmir Bhandar, Swasthya Sathi, etc. projects have been praised all over the world.

Economic growth in Bengal will be 8.41 per cent, the state government is optimistic, the Finance minister said.

(With UNI inputs)