Education, health, and transport sectors are likely get a major allocation of funds in the Delhi Budget, which will be tabled in the assembly Monday by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Sisodia, who holds the finance and education portfolios, is likely to allocate 25 per cent of the total budget to the education sector. “We will spend 25 per cent of our annual budget (2016-17) on education. Perhaps, this is the highest percentage of the total budget to be spent on education sector in the country,” Sisodia had said earlier this year.

Last year, the government had allocated Rs 9,836 crore to the education sector, of which Rs 4,570 crore was given under the plan outlay — an increase of around 106 per cent.

“He will focus on training programmes and physical infrastructure for educational institutions this year,” said a government official.

AAP govt couldn’t spend funds allocated to education last yearDelhi govt to spend 25 per cent of budget on education: Manish SisodiaEducation biggest gainer: 236 new schools, 20,000 more teachers in DelhiDelhi Budget: Civic bodies get cash and help with loansDelhi: AAP govt presents ‘poor people’s budget’Would want 20% of budget allocation for education: Manish SisodiaAAP govt couldn’t spend funds allocated to education last yearDelhi govt to spend 25 per cent of budget on education: Manish SisodiaEducation biggest gainer: 236 new schools, 20,000 more teachers in DelhiDelhi Budget: Civic bodies get cash and help with loansDelhi: AAP govt presents ‘poor people’s budget’Would want 20% of budget allocation for education: Manish SisodiaAAP govt couldn’t spend funds allocated to education last yearDelhi govt to spend 25 per cent of budget on education: Manish SisodiaEducation biggest gainer: 236 new schools, 20,000 more teachers in DelhiDelhi Budget: Civic bodies get cash and help with loansDelhi: AAP govt presents ‘poor people’s budget’Would want 20% of budget allocation for education: Manish Sisodia

The government is also expected to allocate more money for public transport, especially to purchase 1,000 new air-conditioned buses. This comes weeks before the second odd-even scheme is slated to take off in the city.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta alleged, “The Delhi government is set to bring CNG under VAT during the budget session, which will inconvenience the common man.”

He added, “Last year, the DVAT Amendment Act (2) was passed in the budget session without discussion. The maximum limit of VAT was increased from 20 to 30 per cent. These disproportionate increases will lead to inflation. VAT on petrol was increased from 20 to 25 per cent, while VAT on diesel was increased from 12.5 to 16.6 per cent in July last year, triggering a hike in fuel prices…”

In the health sector, the government is going to provide funds for organising their flagship public meetings. Money will be allocated for 3,000 mohalla sabhas, where locals will have a say in deciding civic projects in their areas, said officials.

The government is also expected to set aside Rs 50 crore for Aam Aadmi Canteens, modelled after Tamil Nadu’s highly-subsidised Amma canteens, to provide nutritious food to migrant workers in the national capital.
The government has stated that it will not introduce any new Bill during this session as the Centre is yet to approve the Bills passed during the last session.”If the Centre does not give a nod to the city government’s Bills at the earliest, there is no benefit of tabling new Bills and sending them for approval,” Sisodia had said.

The House will sit only for five days till March 31. The winter session, which was the longest in the history of Delhi Assembly, had seen the introduction and passage of 15 Bills, including the Janlokpal and Delhi School Education Amendment Bill.