Union and Rajasthan Budget: Expectations Run High

With the upcoming budget sessions of Parliament and the Rajasthan Assembly this month, people across the nation and the state are brimming with hopes. Citizens are anticipating new announcements and welfare measures in the Union Budget and the State Budget.

Since 2014, when Narendra Modi's BJP-led NDA government came to power, the tradition of a separate Railway Budget was discontinued. As a result, the public's excitement for railway projects has waned. Now, income tax reforms have become a major point of interest in the Union Budget.

For Rajasthan, a desert-dominated state with scarce water resources, the ancient Aravalli hills, tribal backward regions, and a long international border with Pakistan, the expectations are immense. The state's unique geographical challenges and recurring droughts have led to frequent demands for special state status. Although these demands remain unfulfilled, successive governments have sought central assistance to address water scarcity and poor water quality.

The Bhajan Lal government in Rajasthan has initiated ambitious projects like the revised Parwan-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) ERCP and agreements to bring Yamuna water to the Shekhawati region. However, the declaration of the ERCP as a project of national importance remains pending. Similarly, the state seeks additional central support for the Pachpadra Oil and Petrochemical Complex and the recognition of Jaliyawala Bagh Maan Garh, located near the Gujarat border, as a national monument.

Moreover, granting constitutional status to the widely spoken Rajasthani language is another long-standing demand awaiting fulfillment.

On the state budget front, expectations from the Bhajan Lal government are equally high. The budget's scope will largely depend on central allocations. However, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has sought public suggestions for the state budget and is engaging with various societal and commercial groups to ensure inclusivity.

After the remarkable budget presented by Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari last year, the government aims to surpass expectations this time. The question remains: will the budgets of the Modi government and the Bhajan Lal government live up to the hopes of the common people?