Jaipur: Rajasthan deputy chief minister and finance minister Diya Kumari Tuesday announced a series of welfare and infrastructure measures while replying to the budget debate in the Rajasthan Assembly, attacking Congress over state finances.Taking a swipe at the opposition, Kumari said the previous govt had “emptied the coffers and now lectures us on financial discipline.” She added, “During the Congress regime, the fiscal deficit stood at 4.4% of GSDP. Our govt has brought it down to an estimated 3.8% in 2025–26 and will further reduce it to 3.69 percent in FY 2026–27.”Kumari told the House that nearly 38,000 public suggestions received for the budget were examined and, wherever feasible, incorporated into the FY 2026–27 proposals.“To strengthen road infrastructure, an additional Rs 690 crore was allocated for the development, repair and upgradation of urban and rural roads across the state,” said Kumari.Addressing water needs in the Neemrana industrial belt along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the govt planned to construct an artificial reservoir and feeder system at a cost of Rs 1,012 crore to ensure industrial and drinking water supply. Kumari said, “Rs 150 crore was set aside to replace old and dilapidated pipelines across rural and urban Rajasthan, while over Rs 210 crore was earmarked for new drinking water projects in various regions.“Near the under-construction Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport, a large industrial zone was set to be developed by the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation to host logistics, textile and other manufacturing units, boosting regional employment.To accelerate entrepreneurship, applications under the MSME and ODOP schemes were to be approved directly by General Managers at District Industries Centres.Kumari said a Detailed Project Report was to be prepared to transport treated water from the Jojari River and the Bandi River through pipelines up to the Pachpadra Refinery to strengthen industrial water sustainability.Farmers were to be able to get up to 20 feet of govt land allotted for approach roads to their fields on payment of twice the prevailing DLC rate of agricultural land. Kumari explained that where govt land lay between access roads and khatedari land, the absence of approach roads prevented land use change for non-agricultural purposes. In such cases, a strip of land up to 20 feet wide was to be allotted to ensure direct access.Responding to Congress allegations that pensions had been stopped, Kumari said social security pension payments for senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities were cleared up to Jan 2026, ensuring uninterrupted support to vulnerable sections. For govt employees, she said those selected for central or other state services during their two-year training period were no longer required to refund salary and allowances upon resigning from their current posts. She also announced lifetime insurance coverage for state employees up to retirement.
