Rajasthan

• 22 Sep 2022

The Rajasthan Appropriation (No-3) Bill, 2022

Why In News?

• On September 21, 2022, the Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2022 by voice vote.

Key Points

• Responding to the discussion on the Bill, Minister-in-Charge and MLA Bulaki Das Kalla said that the State Government has fully complied with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FBRM). The fiscal deficit of the state has been less than 5 percent as compared to 6.09 percent in 2016-17.
• He said that the government's on-tax revenue has increased by 28 percent and non-tax revenue by 23 percent. Due to better financial management, the revenue receipts were 90 thousand 11 crores in August, 2021, which has reached 1 lakh 30 thousand 777 crores in August this year.
• The Minister-in-Charge informed that the government has taken the demands of supplementary grants for implementation of RGSS, ERCP, Nehru Youth Hostel (Delhi), Indira Gandhi Shahari Rozgar Guarantee Yojna, Jaipur Metro, Udan etc. The aim of the government is to create capital assets and utilize the money properly.
• While placing the bill in the house, he said that this bill has been brought to authorize the payment and appropriation of certain amounts from the Consolidated Fund of the state for the services of the financial year 2022-23. With the passage of the Bill, an amount of Rs 4 thousand 402 crore 12 lakh 18 thousand can be paid and applied.
• Earlier, the assembly also passed the demands for supplementary grants for the year 2022-23 (first compilation). In-charge Minister Kalla presented the demands, which were passed by the House using a mouthpiece.

Rajasthan Agricultural Produce Market (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Why In News?

• On September 21, 2022, the Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Agricultural Produce Market (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by voice vote. Minister of State for Agriculture Marketing Murarilal Meena had introduced the bill in the House.

Key Points

• Minister of State Murarilal Meena, in his reply after the discussion on the bill, said that this new bill has been brought to deal with the situation arising out of three agricultural laws brought by the central government. After the repeal of the central laws, the earlier situation is being brought into existence again through this law. Also, trading of non-notified agricultural produce and food products has been facilitated in agricultural markets.
• Murarilal Meena said that due to the central government's farm laws, the mandi fees and farmer welfare fees collected by the mandi committees had come down significantly. Prior to the introduction of these laws, agricultural market committees earned a revenue of Rs 665 crore in the year 2019-20.
• After the new central agricultural laws came into existence, their revenue receipt fell to Rs 562 crore in the year 2020-21 and Rs 424 crore in the year 2021-22. This has adversely affected the basic development of mandis.
• He said that after the notification of withdrawal of Central Agricultural Laws was issued, a review meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister on January 24, 2022, in which, after consultation with the trade boards and farmer representatives, it was decided to make arrangements in the mandis as before. taken.
• He informed that the State Government is giving grant up to Rs. one crore for setting up of agro processing units and infrastructure development through farmer welfare fee.
• The Minister of State informed that along with the notified commodities in the agricultural mandis, non-notified agricultural produce is also traded. Keeping this in mind, a new section 17B has been added to provide better facilities to the traders for trading of non-notified agricultural produce and food products within the market yard. Only 0.25 per cent duty has been levied on these items, whereas in many states including Uttar Pradesh this duty is more than one percent.

Rajasthan Advocates Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Why In News?

• On September 21, 2022, the Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Advocates Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020 by voice vote. Education Minister Dr. B. D. Kalla had introduced the Bill in the House.

Key Points

• Education Minister Dr. B.D. Kalla, in his reply after the discussion on the bill, said that the amendments have been made in the bill only after consultation with the Bar Council of Rajasthan. Whatever suggestions were given by the Bar Council in a letter to the government in August, 2021, they have been included in this bill.
• He said that on the suggestion of the council, a provision has been made in the bill to give money to the advocates after doing advocacy work for 5 to 50 years. This amount is not ex-gratia, but is a reward for the services of the advocates.
• Dr. Kalla told that a provision of Rs.100 stamp has been made for advocacy in the bill. It will be equally applicable in all courts including Sessions Court, High Court or JDA. This amendment has also been included on the suggestion of the Council.