It’s a pro-women Budget for Rajasthan. With an eye on the 2009 Assembly election, on Monday, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje presented the state Budget ahead of the Union Budget — apparently something unprecedented in the state. Presenting a plan outlay of Rs 15,248.33 crore, with a surplus of Rs 180.39 crore, Raje’s Budget had something for everyone — six per cent dearness allowance for pensioners, increased minimum wages for labourers, 1.5 lakh power connections for farmers, scholarships for students, training programmes for unemployed youth.

For the Gurjjar community, the CM announced a special ‘Dev Narayan Package’.

“The fund required to implement the recommendations made by the Ramdas Agarwal Committee will be allotted to the Dev Narayan Scheme,” she assured.

For women, Raje introduced 50 per cent reservation in the panchayat raj elections and raised widow’s pension from Rs 200 to Rs 400. Now, women will own 20 per cent of the krishi mandis. She announced the opening of Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalaya for girls in several districts. And one can call it a ‘Chak De’ effect — the CM also announced the construction of a hockey academy for women at Ajmer. Besides, Raje announced a reward of Rs 1,500 for women — belonging to BPL, SC, ST or small and marginal farmers’ families — who will open a bank account. She promised government jobs for girls who will graduate from agriculture school. BPL families, with girls over 21 years of age, will be given an aid of Rs 10,000 for their wedding.

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