No new taxes in Tamil Nadu budget

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan on Friday presented a Rs. 3,396.45 crore deficit budget and refrained from imposing fresh taxes.

The Minister presented the State budget in the new Assembly-Secretariat complex on Omanthoorar Government Estate here on Friday.

Reduction in taxes on a variety of articles used by the common man was announced by the minister, who presented the fourth budget of the DMK government in the state.

The state government also announced that an industrial park would be set by the State Industries Promotion Corporation in Villupuram district.

The goverment would spend Rs. 22 crore to expand Tamil Nadu State Wide Area Network which connects headquarters of various departments of government in district, divisional and block level through internet.

On the women welfare front, the government has announced enhancing assistance under ‘Moovalar Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Memorial Assistance’ scheme from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000.

Iodised salt would be given to pregnant women free of coast through fair price shops.

For the welfare of differently- abled persons, the budget said upper income limit prescribed for availing assistance under various government welfare schemes will be completely removed.

Allocation for scheduled castes sub-plan has been increased from Rs 567. crore to Rs. 3,828 crore and this was 19 per cent of the total plan outlay.

The Vote on Account for 2010-2011 and Final Supplementary Estimates for 2009-2010 will be presented on March 26.