Pay Commission
25. The Fifth Pay Commission is expected to submit its report by the end of September 1996. Funds have been provided in this Budget as well as the Railway Budget to meet the anticipated expenditure. Meanwhile, I am happy that the question of granting another instalment of interim relief has been sorted out satisfactorily.
Other Welfare Measures
26. The Prime Minister has repeatedly declared that this government is a government of the poor and for the poor. Growth with social justice will be the motto of this government. Unless the country's GDP grows at over 7% per year in the next 10 years, we will not be able to abolish poverty and unemployment. However, there is a need to identify vulnerable sections of the people and help them. The Prime Minister has identified some target groups which deserve to be helped and I am proposing some new initiatives for meeting their special needs. These initiatives will be implemented through the State governments and, as far as possible, in collaboration with non- governmental organisations.
- I am setting apart, initially, a sum of Rs.5 crore to assist in the establishment of old- age homes and another sum of Rs. 5 crore to assist in the establishment of residential primary schools for poor children irrespective of caste or creed. It is intended that both these programmes should be implemented through non-governmental organisations. The programmes will be firmed up by the Ministries concerned in consultation with the State governments.
- Rs.10 crore is being provided for giving assistance to States which have or will set up Women Development Corporations. An additional amount of Rs.10 crore has been set apart for starting training-cum-production centres or schemes for destitute women in different States.
- I am creating a National Illness Assistance Fund with an initial corpus of Rs.5 crore. Besides, Rs.25 crore have been set apart for contributions to the corpus of State Illness Assistance Funds that we would encourage the State governments to establish. 100% of the donations to these funds will be exempt from income tax. These funds will be used to provide assistance to the very poor for surgery or treatment for serious illnesses requiring hospitalisation.
- Rs.5 crore is being provided to award an ex- gratia amount of Rs.50,000 per family to the families of lorry and bus drivers who meet with fatal accidents. This will be implemented by the State governments on a reimbursible basis.
- I am making a provision of Rs.5 crore for building residential facilities for hamals - our brothers who toil day and night. This scheme will also be implemented by the States.
27. Government will consider a scheme of financial assistance to States who confer ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and other weaker sections who work in forests.
