J&K budget proposes dole for migrants,Sarpanchs

Presenting the budget for 2013-14,Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather Wednesday announced a slew of welfare measures: health insurance for migrants,hike in daily wages,VAT exemption on flour,rice,paddy as well as for tourism sector for another year.

The Rs 38,068 crore zero deficit budget proposes Rs 5 crore for housing,Rs 9 crore for transit accommodation and Rs 8 crore for group health insurance of Kashmiri Pandit migrants. It also proposed to enhance daily wage rate from Rs 125 to Rs 150.

Rather also unveiled measures to empower Panchayats,which would now implement schemes,including MGNREGA,of the order of more than Rs 1,300 crore.

“Sarpanchs will get remuneration of Rs 2000 per month and Panch1s Rs 300 per sitting subject to monthly ceiling of Rs 600 per month,” the minister said,adding the state would also consider insurance cover for them.