Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy presenting the Budget for the financial year 2025-26 in the Legislative Assembly in Puducherry on Wednesday
| Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar
A slew of welfare initiatives targeting almost all segments of society have been introduced in Puducherry’s annual budget of ₹13,600 crore for 2025-26, presented by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Wednesday (March 12, 2025). These include the enhancement of monthly financial assistance to women from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500, an increase in the old age monthly pension by ₹500, and financial aid for government schoolchildren who have lost either of their parents.
Additionally, new monthly financial assistance schemes for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and a decision to provide 2 kg of wheat to all ration card holders, in addition to the free rice already being provided, are part of the welfare package in the Budget.
Key aspects
Presenting the annual budget in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the government has decided to enhance monthly financial assistance from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 given to women heads of family in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. The monthly old age pension has been increased by ₹500 to all categories of people covered by the Women and Child Welfare Department.
Unveiling a new scheme targeting government schoolchildren, the Chief Minister said students of government and government aided schools, who have lost either of their parents, will be eligible to get a financial assistance of ₹2,000 (those studying in Classes 1 to 5), ₹3,000 (Classes 6 to 10), and ₹4,000 (Classes 11 and 12).
Budgeting an increased sum of ₹526. 81 crore under the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, the Chief Minister said the government will provide a monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 to SC/ST unmarried women/widows, who are not employed and attained 30 years of age or above till they are married or employed.
The government will provide a monthly financial assistance of ₹5,000 to SC/ST orphaned children until they attain the age of 18 years for their benefits of education and other essential needs. A monthly stipend of ₹500 and ₹1,000 for joining type-writing/shorthand and computer classes will be given to SC/ST students respectively, he said.
Starting from the next financial year, the Chief Minister said the government will distribute 2 kg of wheat per month to all ration card holders in addition to the provision of free rice. The government has set aside a sum of ₹300 crore for the free rice scheme in the next financial year, he added.
Filling up of vacancies
The government has proposed to fill 2,298 regular posts in the cadre of Deputy Tahsildar, Village Administrative Officer, Village Assistant, Sub Inspector of Police, Police Constable, Coastal Home Guards, Lecturer, Trained Graduate Teachers (language and subjects), Primary School Teachers, Agriculture Officer, Pharmacist, ECG technician, Health Assistants, Assistants, Upper Division Clerks, Lower Division Clerks, and Library Assistants.
Stating that his government is committed to improving infrastructure in the UT, the Chief Minister said the government had allocated ₹300 crore more under capital head. Under French Development Agency (AFD) assisted programme, the government will take up the augmentation of drinking water projects to the tune of ₹534 crore in Puducherry. A detailed project report for ₹839.77 crore had been submitted to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the construction of elevated corridor from Rajiv Gandhi Square to Indira Gandhi Square.
The Delhi Development Authority has allotted a plot at a cost of ₹25 crore at Dwarka in New Delhi for the construction of a new Government Guest House in the national capital, the Chief Minister further said.
Walkout by Independent MLA
As the Chief Minister was halfway through his Budget speech, Independent MLA P.R. Siva, representing Thirunallar in Karaikal region of the UT, staged a walkout to protest the alleged neglect shown to the enclave by the government. He said the government did not cater to the long-pending demands of the public to improve the health infrastructure in Karaikal, Mr. Siva said before staging the walkout.
Published – March 12, 2025 01:33 pm IST