SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the Budget 2023-24 will be all inclusive, based on ‘Swayampurna Goa’, which would focus on ensuring that each State and Central government schemes reach to the last mile.
Sawant was speaking to media persons after interacting with various industry stakeholders with regards to budget preparation, which will be presented next week.
The four-day long Budget session is scheduled from March 27 to 31. No business would be conducted in the House on March 30 due to Ram Navami festival.
Representatives of micro industries, tourism, agriculturist, liquor industry, petrol pump owners, chartered accountants, pharmacy association, and mining association were among those who attended the pre-Budget meeting and submitted their suggestions to the Chief Minister.
Sawant said that the stakeholders have suggested reforms for ease of doing business and to bring down the taxes, rationalization of taxes, etc.
He said that stakeholders have suggested introducing a new scheme of VAT and GST.
“They have asked for changes in the collection of VAT and also to introduce the old scheme of 2016 on VAT,” Sawant said.
He also said that tourism, hotel, liquor and entertainment associations have suggested introducing entertainment policy and advertisement policy.
“We are also focusing on increasing state revenue and on private investment,” Sawant said, adding that the date of budget presentation is not finalised yet.
“This year’s budget will be all-inclusive and based on ‘Swayampurn Goa’. We will take people’s suggestions into consideration,” he added.
During the meeting, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) urged the state government to create a mass transport system (MTS) which connects all the airports, major bus stands and railway stations with the urban centres of the state.
GCCI along with other industry bodies have called for the state government to build an efficient public transportation system that links Goa’s hinterland with the industrial estates.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has laid focus on completion of proposed tourism projects, continuation of charter incentive scheme, tourist friendly police force, effective beach management and entertainment policy for the State.
“Because of the high rates of high-end liquor in Goa, a lot of it is brought from other states for events in Goa, which results in revenue loss,” President of TTAG, Nilesh Shah said.
The TTAG has also recommended for better transport facilities and connectivity to connect airports, ports, main bus stands, railway stations with cities and towns with upgradation of main city bus stands - Panaji, Vasco, Margao, Mapusa and Margao.
The TTAG also said that large amount of touts on the road and on bikes who are selling every service in cash.
“Touts charge commission in cash for water sports, boats trips, waterfall trips, spice farms, adventure trips and various other services. Due to this, the government is losing revenue as travel agencies are not getting business,” TTAG complained.
Goa Small Industries Association (GSIA) has urged government to improve the infrastructure in the industrial estates and ensure adequate power supply.
Adarsh Krishi Sahakari Sanstha has demanded Rs 150 per kg as a minimum support price for cashews, besides Rs 15,000 per hectare as a support price for organic cashews.
“Organic cashews should get Rs. 1500 per hectare for certification and administration cost and paddy support price should be Rs. 25 per kg. We have demanded that mahila should get Rs. 5000 per month for a cashews harvesting for the period of four months``, said Prakash Velip, Chairman of Adarsh Krishi Sahakari Sanstha.
He further informed that they have asked the government to have a cashew regional office in Goa so that cashew farmers are provided with the batter service.
“We have requested the government to provide solar equipment for farmers with more subsidies, besides Kisan Cards to all farmers in the state of Goa.”
