Maharashtra Budget 2024: Milk Subsidy Continues, 18 New Medical Colleges Approved

The subsidy of Rs 5 per litre for milk producers in Maharashtra will continue, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced on Friday while presenting the state's budget for 2024-25 in the legislative assembly. Presenting the final budget of the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government before the assembly elections, he also mentioned that 18 new medical colleges would be established in the state.

A total of Rs 223.83 crore in subsidies has been distributed to 2.93 lakh registered milk producers at a rate of Rs 5 per litre, with the remaining subsidy to be distributed immediately, he added.

A new scheme called 'Gaon Tithe Godam' (a godown in every village) will be implemented to provide storage facilities for agricultural produce. The first phase will include constructing 100 new godowns and repairing existing ones, said Pawar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister.

Financial assistance will be provided to 10,000 women across 17 cities for purchasing e-rickshaws, with Rs 80 crore allocated for this 'pink e-rickshaw' scheme, he said.

A total of 92.43 lakh farmer families received grant-in-aid of Rs 5,318.47 crore under the Namo Shetkari Sanman Nidhi Yojana announced last year, Pawar said.

Additionally, Rs 3,504.66 crore were disbursed to 59.57 lakh farmers under the one rupee crop insurance scheme, the minister informed.

Approval has been given to establish government medical colleges with an intake capacity of 100 students along with 430-bed hospitals in 18 districts, he said.

A Unani medical college will be set up in Raigad, and an Ayurveda college will be established in Buldhana district, he said.

(With inputs from PTI.)