Jaipur, December 17. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot said that it is our priority to provide relief to people. The economy of Rajasthan is continuously growing despite the ill effects of Covid. The growth of the state’s GDP at the rate of 11.04% is a good sign for the economy and the growth in double digits has been possible due to the positive policies of the state government.
Shri Gehlot was addressing a function organized at his official residence on the completion of four years of the state government on Saturday. He said the state GDP has increased by Rs 3 lakh crore in the last three years, which is a sign of the development of the state. The size of the state GDP has increased to Rs 12 lakh crore. The per capita income in the last 3 years has increased by 26.81%. The per capita income in the country is increasing at the rate of 6.08% whereas, in Rajasthan, the per capita income is increasing at the rate of 8.24%.
7% of the budget is being spent on health
The Chief Minister said that the state government has done unprecedented work in medical and health services. Rajasthan is the only state among the big states of the country, where 7% of the budget is being spent on healthcare, whereas 5.6% of the budget is spent on health in Gujarat. The system of providing free coverage of health facilities to all has been implemented in the state. The Right to Health Bill has also been brought, which is under consideration in the assembly. Total treatment, tests, and medicines are free in all government hospitals. Rajasthan is the first state in the country to do this. In the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana (Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme) cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh is being provided in all the government and private hospitals, and accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh. All entire expenses of the costly transplants and implants including heart transplants, bone marrow transplants, cochlear implants, etc are being provided by the state government by making a package. Rajasthan is the first state in the country with such a scheme.
The facility of ICU in every district hospital
Shri Gehlot said that till now transplants and implants worth Rs 11 crore have been done for 337 patients under the Chiranjeevi scheme. There has been a historic increase in medical facilities in the last three years. Now ICU facility is available in every district hospital. The country’s first IPD tower with a helipad is under construction in Jaipur. Government Medical Colleges are opening in 30 out of 33 districts and Government Nursing Colleges are opening in all the districts. This will end the shortage of doctors and nurses in the coming times.
1639 Mahatma Gandhi Government English Medium Schools in 4 years
The Chief Minister said that the work done in the field of education in the state is remarkable. In the last 4 years in Rajasthan 1639, Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools have been opened in which around 3 lakh children are studying. In the last 3 years, 211 new Government Colleges have been opened, out of which 94 are Girls’ Colleges. Now there is a huge decline in the number of girls who quit their studies after class 12 and the number of girls studying in government colleges in Rajasthan has exceeded the number of boys.
Professional universities like Journalism University, and Law University were started after 2018. Now a Divyang University will also be set up. Today there are a total of 89 universities in the state. 125 new Nursing Colleges and 42 new Agriculture Colleges have been opened. Rajasthan has got an A+ grade in NITI Aayog’s 2019-20 Performance Grade Index.
Focus on Renewable Energy
Shri Gehlot said that to reduce the dependency on coal and to generate electricity from solar, wind, and biomass energy, the state is focussing on renewable energy in place of conventional energy sources. Rajasthan is in the first position in the country with 16,000 MW solar energy capacity. MoUs have been signed for the investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in the solar sector. Domestic electricity for up to 50 units is free, the concession of Rs 3 per unit for up to 150 units and Rs 2 per unit for up to 300 units is being given. The electricity bill of around 38 lakh consumers has become zero due to this concession.
53,789km long roads developed
The Chief Minister said that efforts are being made to continuously strengthen the transport system in the state. Roads of 53,789km have been developed in the state by spending Rs 24,405 crore, new roads of 8987km were constructed by spending Rs 3828 crore, Rs 4084 crore was spent on widening and strengthening of 1068km national highways, approximately Rs 8004 crore was spent on development works of 6448km state highways and main district roads, 37,286 km long roads other district roads and rural roads were developed by spending Rs 8489 crore. In the state 697 villages with a population of more than 500 people were connected with roads, 1833km of main district roads and other roads were upgraded to state highways, and 5935km long other district roads and rural roads were upgraded to Main District Roads.
Investment increasing in the State
Shri Gehlot said that investments in the state are increasing steadily by making the policies as per the needs of the industries in every sector including RIPS-2019, Mukhyamantri Laghu Udyog Protsahan Yojana-2019 for small industries, solar, wind, EV, Handicrafts, MSME, Tourism and Agro Business Promotion Policy. Big businessmen from India and abroad came to Invest Rajasthan Summit and MoUs and LoIs of Rs 11 lakh crore were signed. The country’s biggest petroleum investment is coming from the refinery and petrochemical investment region in Pachpadra. At present, around 16,000 people have got employment and with the completion of the refinery, this number of employees will reach up to 1 lakh. Maximum crude oil production in the country is taking place in Rajasthan. RIICO is opening industrial areas in every subdivision in the state. At present more than 390 industrial areas have been developed in the state and 147 new industrial areas are being developed. Mega Textile Park and Medical Device Park are also being set up in Rajasthan.
Improvement in Ease of Doing Business
He said that Fintech Park in Jaipur is being developed so that the service sector can be further developed. In this year’s budget provision has been made to develop a Multi-storey Industrial Complex at Greater Bhiwadi and Boranada (Jodhpur) at a cost of Rs 250 crore each. There is no need for any government permission for five years in MSME Establishment and Facilitation Act, which has benefitted around 15,000 industries and 6,000 MSME units have been set up. Customized packages are being given to industries in Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme. It has been ensured that government permissions are given in one place, subsidy to the industries are being given through Laghu Udyog Protsahan Yojana. Agro-Processing, Agri-Business, and Agri-Export Promotion Policy have been brought for agriculture-based industries. On the lines of CISF, we are constituting RISF (Rajasthan Industrial Security Force) for the protection of industries. Ease of Doing Business has also improved in the state because of our investment-friendly policies.
Zero Electricity Bills of 8.85 lakh farmers
The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan is the first state in the country that brought a separate Agriculture Budget. Loans of Rs 15,000 crore of 21 lakh farmers in the state have been waived. The electricity bills of 8.85 lakh farmers have become zero with a subsidy of Rs 1000 per month on agriculture connections. The electricity system is being further strengthened to provide agricultural electricity to farmers during the daytime. A subsidy of Rs 5 per liter is being given to milk producers giving milk to Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation, small and marginal farmers are getting the free benefit of the Chiranjeevi scheme.
Various social security pensions to 1 crore people
Shri Gehlot said that approximately 1 crore people in the state are being given various social security pensions. The state government is giving additional employment of 25 days in MGNREGS, employment for 100 days is being given in cities by implementing Indira Gandhi Shehari Rojgar Yojana for the employment guarantee in cities, implementing Old Pension Scheme for the government employees their worries about the future have been addressed, Rs 5500 were given to each family in installments to 33 lakh helpless families during the lockdown, Rs 50,000 to each family on death due to Covid, a special package was given to widows and orphans that includes lump sum assistance and pension and 968 Indira Rasois are functioning in the state to provide food for Rs 8 in urban bodies.
Government increasing the dignity of women
Shri Gehlot said that 12 free sanitary napkins have been announced to every woman under the Udaan scheme with a budget of Rs 600 crore in the state, free smartphones will be given with 3 three internet connectivity to all woman heads of Chiranjeevi families, Rs 6000 is being given to women on institutional delivery of second child under the Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana, there has been a big reduction in IMR and MMR in three years due to excellent medical facilities, around 96% institutional deliveries are taking place in the state, Mukhyamantri Back to Work and Mukhyamantri Work from Home Scheme has been implemented for working women and 15,000 women have been brought back to work who had taken a career break.
The government dedicated to youth
The Chief Minister said that 15,000 children are getting free coaching with Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Yojana, students of reserved categories studying in college at the district and division level are being provided economic assistance of Rs 2000 per month through Ambedkar DBT Scheme, 200 children are being given a scholarship to study in abroad in Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence, till now 1.35 lakh jobs have been given, 1.20 lakh are in process and it has been announced to give another 1 lakh jobs.
He said that removing the condition of immovable property in EWS, the EWS beneficiaries are being given other benefits including age limit, examination fee similar to the reserved categories, the reservation of divyangjans in government jobs has been increased to 4% from 3%, Out of Turn appointments up to DySP level is being given to medal winner sportspersons in the state to promote the players, 229 jobs have been given, sportspersons are being given 2% reservation in government jobs, unemployment allowance of Rs 4000 per month to males and Rs 4500 per month to females along with 4 hours internship is being given, keeping in view the reservation related guidelines of the Supreme Court the contractual service rules have been made to regularise the contractual personnel by which the way has been paved for their regularisation, 1.78 lakh candidates have been trained under various schemes of Skill Training Programme and interest free loan of Rs 50,000 for one year is being given to 5 lakh people doing small business on push carts, footpaths etc under Indira Gandhi Shehari Credit Card Yojana.
The policy of compulsory registration of FIR successful
The Chief Minister said that despite the policy of compulsory registration of FIR, there was 5% less registration of crimes in 2021 compared to 2019. Gujarat has registered around a 69% increase in crimes, while Haryana has registered a 24% increase and MP has registered around a 20% increase in crimes. Uttar Pradesh is leading in the country in murders, crime against women, and kidnapping, maximum custodial deaths have taken place in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh is first in the country in rape with minors or POCSO Act cases, whereas Rajasthan is in 12th place. The result of the policy of compulsory registration of FIR, in 2017-18 33% of FIRs were registered through the court under CrPC 156(3) but now this has come down to 13% and in this also, maximum are the complaints of the cases that go directly to the court. These are the result of the steps taken by our government in 2017-18, the investigation time in rape cases was 274 days which now has come down to 68 days. The average time of investigation in POCSO cases in 2018 was 232 days which now is only 66 days. In Rajasthan, the police are taking effective action against every crime and the government stands with the victim’s side. In 2015, around 51% of the cases of SC & ST Act were registered through the court in CrPC 156(3), which now is only 10%. This is the success of the policy of compulsory registration of FIR.
Shri Gehlot said that in rape cases, the conviction percentage in Rajasthan is around 48%, whereas the national average is only 28.6%, in the cases of women atrocities the conviction rate is 45.2% while it is only 26.5% at the national level, the pendency in crime against women is 9.6% whereas it is 31.7% at the national level and in the cases of IPC the pendency is around 10% in Rajasthan and at the national level it is 35.1%.
Amount of Rs 9600 crore allotted to ERCP
The Chief Minister said that Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) is an ambitious project of the state, through which 13 districts Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa and Dholpur were to get the facility of drinking water and to develop 2 lakh hectares irrigation area.
Shri Gehlot said that the Rajasthan Government in budget 2022-23 has allotted an amount of Rs 9600 crore for ERCP. The construction of the Isarda dam under ERCP is going on in Tonk. If ERCP is not made then the water taps being installed under Jal Jeevan Mission in these 13 districts will remain a showpiece. More delay in giving the status national project to ERCP will lead to increase project costs and more expenses.
The Chief Minister said that in Jal Jeevan Mission from 2019 till date the state government spending Rs 10247 crore has benefitted around 30 lakh families. Under the Mission, financial and administrative approvals have been issued to more than 39,000 villages so far in the state, which is 99% of the total target of the mission. Despite tough geographical conditions and scattered habitations of the state, no stone has been left unturned in completing the works of Jal Jeevan Mission.
As the distances between villages and hamlets being more in Rajasthan, the cost of providing door-to-door drinking water is many times more than in other states. Keeping this in view, the Central Government should provide assistance under 90:10 in Jal Jeevan Mission. After the Russia and Ukraine war, there has been an unprecedented increase in the cost of many items, due to which problems were faced in the implementation of the mission. The Central Government due to this reason should increase the time limit of the Mission so that every family gets the benefit of the Mission.
OPS implemented in the interest of the employees
Shri Gehlot said that the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government took the decision to implement NPS instead of OPS for the people coming into the government service in January 2004. He gave the opportunity to the states to join the NPS and except for West Bengal, almost all state governments joined the NPS because the money of the state government was being saved in NPS. But after the implementation of the NPS when the employees eligible in NPS started retiring then it was seen that the situation is not very good.
He said during the debate on Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) made for the NPS, the standing committee of Lok Sabha in its report had written that the labor unions and employees’ unions are against the NPS. The pension amount through NPS was very less. In 2018, in the CAG report, it is said that the NPS has failed in providing social and economic security. In 2021, the National Human Rights Commission demanded to make a committee review of the NPS. PFRDA also informed that Rs 1600 crore of the employees deposited in NPS invested in the share market is on the verge of collapse. Judicial Pay Commission has kept OPS implemented in the judiciary. OPS is there in the army, navy, and air force and NPS is for the paramilitary forces, whereas both jobs are high-risk jobs. Keeping this in view, the Rajasthan Government decided to reinstate the OPS. Till now, the benefit of OPS has been approved in 238 cases who have retired after joining the job on January 1, 2004.
The Chief Minister said that it is not fair for the central agencies to raise questions on OPS because the subjects of the Central List, State List, and Concurrent List are prescribed in the 7th schedule of the Constitution of India. Article 246 empowers the states to take decisions on the subjects of the State List. Point number 42 of the State List clearly states that pension is given from the consolidated fund and the state has the right to make law on it. The contribution of the OPS employees is more in the development of the country till 2004 and the development that is taking place now.
