Gujarat plans Rs 5,000 crore ‘Atmanirbhar’ package

GANDHINAGAR: The state government has planned a major relief package, modelled on lines of the central government’s ‘Atmanirbhar’ package, to revive the state’s economy given the Covid-19 situation. While the package is likely to be announced in a week, it will comprise of two parts, one offering direct financial benefits and the other will be reform-led benefits.
Based on the report of the expert advisory group led by former union finance secretary Hasmukh Adhia, the state government is looking to provide a boost to sectors which generate employment in large numbers.Accordingly, the agriculture, MSME, service sector, real estate and small businesses are expected to get a major boost through the package.
After studying the report submitted by the committee, the CM held a meeting with top government officials to work out the finer aspects of the package, which will be announced soon.
A source privy to the drafting of the package said, “On the basis of the Adhia committee’s report, the state government plans to announce a major economic revival package within a week. All the departments especially agriculture and cooperation, industry and mines, urban development, panchayat and rural development, energy and petrochemicals, labour and employment have been asked to gear up to provide direct and reform-oriented benefits to industry, business, agriculture and all sectors of the economy.”
“There will be direct interest subsidy as well tax concessions for various industries and businesses and direct financial and other incentives for the sections like farmers, the unorganized sector etc. The size of the package could be in excess of Rs 5,000 crore,” the source added.
When asked Nitin Patel, deputy chief minister and the government spokesperson said, “We are coming out with a major economic revival package very shortly, which will benefit all sections of the society and help in rebooting the state economy like government of India package. However, I cannot share finer details of the package at this moment. What I can say is that it will act as a major motivation for the economic revival in the post-lockdown period.’’