TN BUDGET to focus on infrastructure, education

SALIENT FEATURES


* Rs 4,179 crore for the highways development in 2008-09.


* Rs 1,000-crore Tamil Nadu Urban Roads Development Project scheme from coming financial year.


* Interest rates on crop loan from co-operative banks reduced to 4% from 5% earlier.


* Allocation of Rs 40 crore towards crop insurance for 25 lakh farmers with government bearing 50% of the insurance premium.


* Crop loans to the tune of Rs 1,177 crore disbursed during as of March 20 this year.


* Public sector cement plant at Alangulam to be modernised at a cost of Rs 82 crore.


* Additional incentive price of Rs 50 per quintal for paddy over and above the incentive price of Rs 100 per quintal announced by the central government thus enhancing the procurement price of fine variety of paddy to Rs 825 per quintal.


* Incentives given to investments above Rs 350 crore in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts extended to investments above Rs 250 crore for industries set up in other parts of the state.


* 10,000 farmer self-help groups (SHGs) to be formed consisting of one lakh farmers who are availing crop loans from primary agricultural co-operative banks. They will act as joint liability groups and will be able to access credit from co-operative and public sector banks. These groups will be provided with Rs 10 crore revolving fund through co-operative banks.


* Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) to be implemented at a cost of about Rs 800 crore in the coming year. State's share of SSA will be Rs 280 crore.


* Siddha medicine exempt from tax.