West Bengal Budget: Government promises 22 lakh jobs this fiscal
Finance Minister Amit Mitra announced an increase in plan expenditure as the state struggles with a debt crisis.
West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra hiked the Plan Expenditure for the financial year 2016-17 and promised to generate 22 lakh jobs while presenting the state Budget on Friday, reported IANS. "I propose to increase the Plan Expenditure to Rs 57,905 crore. Our aim is to work for financial and social development for the people of Bengal, particular for those who remain financially and socially backward," Mitra said.
In the last fiscal, the Plan Expenditure on paper was Rs 49,507 crore and actual spending was 7% more, crossing Rs 53,000 crore.
Apart from this, Mitra laid emphasis on agriculture and small scale industries. However, the state Finance Minister kept mum on plans to boost revenue. West Bengal is already reeling under a huge debt of around Rs 32,000 crore.
Mamata Banerjee's (in picture) Trinamool Congress was elected to power for the second consecutive time in May 2016. The TMC swept the polls by winning 211 seats out of 294.