Rupani unveils Rs 14 000-crore 'Gujarat Atmanirbhar' package

    Ahmedabad, Jun 4 (PTI) The Gujarat government on
Thursday announced a relief package of Rs 14,000 crore to help
revive the economy battered by the lockdown imposed to curb
the spread of coronavirus, a measure that includes tax rebates
to consumers and loan subsidy for business and shop owners.
    The package seeks to cover a vast section of people
and businesses in Gujarat, one of the most industrialised
states which has reported more than 18,500 COVID-19 cases so
far.
    Chief Minister Vijay Rupani made the announcement and
gave relief to various sections of the society based on
recommendations of a committee headed by former Union finance
secretary Hasmukh Adhia.
    We had appointed the Hasmukh Adhia committee for
economic revival of the state which has submitted an interim
report.
    "The report was discussed threadbare for the last four
days and we have decided to announce'Gujarat Atmanirbhar
(self-reliant) package' of Rs 14,000 crore, Rupani said.
    We have decided to give relief to people in payment
of property tax, electricity bills and vehicle tax, Rupani
said.
    Commercial establishments, businesses, offices,
hotels, restaurants, shops, hospitals will get a rebate of 20
per cent in their annual property tax bills while residential
property owners will get 10 per cent rebate, according to
details of the package.
    This will give direct benefit to people to the tune of
Rs 744 crore.
    Electricity consumers using less than 200 units per
months will get rebate till first 100 units consumption which
will cost Rs 200 crore to the exchequer, the chief minister
said, adding the state will give the amount to power
companies.
    Various rebates have been announced for commercial and
industrial consumers of electricity. While private buses,
jeeps, taxis have been given relief of payment of road tax and
tax for six months due to the lockdown.
    The total relief for property tax, electricity and
vehicle tax comes to Rs 2,300 crore, according to the package.
    The government announced subsidy for various
industries to the tune of Rs 3,038 crore, while Rs 458-crore
relief was given to GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corp)
for promotion of industries.
    In a bid to revive the housing sector, the government
has announced Rs 1,000 crore.
    The government said it will give loan interest subsidy
of 4 per cent for loans of up to Rs 2.5 lakh for business and
shop owners.
    Out of the 8 per cent interest rate, 4 per cent will
have to be paid by the borrower, while the rest will be paid
by the government.
    The government allocated Rs 525 crore for loan
interest subsidy.
    It earmarked Rs 466 crore for labour welfare which
includes benefits of Rs 35,000 to each tribal labourer who
works in different parts of the state and wants to build a
house in his hometown.
    Other benefits are of Rs 5,044 crore which include
free ration to poor families during the period of lockdown and
direct transfer of Rs 1,000 in their accounts.
    The government also decided to allocate Rs 100 crore
to the health department and another Rs 100 crore to four
municipal corporations - Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and
Rajkot - from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund to fight the
novel coronavirus. PTI PD
RSY RSY

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)