New Schemes at a Glance

New Schemes at a Glance
Express News Service

Hyderabad: As it was an election budget, the state government introduced several new schemes. They are:
RAJIV DEEVENA:  To provide pre-matric scholarships to 3 lakh SC students. Day-scholars to get `150 per month and hostellers `350. An allocation of `115 crore was made in the budget for the scheme.
TELUGU BATA: The government will organise cultural festivals at the district-level in the state to promote Telugu language and culture. Allocation: `25 crore.
ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES:  As many as nine essential food items in a packaged form will be supplied from Uagadi. The basket of commodities includes wheat, wheat atta, sugar, redgram, palmolive oil, iodised salt, tamarind, chilli powder and turmeric. The benefit for each card holder is `1,284 per year and `660 crore was provided for the scheme.
NEW DIVISIONS: It is proposed to form 18 new revenue divisions and 52 urban mandals.
SOLAR HEATERS, PUMPSETS: It is proposed to encourage solar energy products like heaters in the domestic sector. The government earmarked `8 crore in the budget. Solar energy pumpsets will be provided to farmers. A provision of `30 crore was made in the budget estimates.
MARKET INTERVENTION FUND: To ensure minimum support price for crops like paddy, jowar, maize, ragi and pulses, the government proposed to create the Market Intervention Fund with `100 crore.
NATURAL CALAMITIES FUND: A fund with `589.04 crore will be created to provide immediate relief to farmers affected by natural calamities.
SERICULTURE: It is proposed to provide assistance for silk reeling in the form of subsidy. There will be interest subsidy (Pavala Vaddi) on working capital and incentives for private silk reelers for the raw silk produced.
FISHERIES: The fisheries database will be upgraded and a geographical information system (GIS) for the fisheries sector will be created. Online registration of marine fishing vessels will be done and biometric ID cards will be issued to the fishermen.