DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPING MINOR GIRLS: CM

: Chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday announced that the Rajasthan government will amend the Indian Penal Code to include death penalty for raping minor girls.

Replying to debate in the assembly on the state budget, Raje announced allocation of ₹500 crore for the Bhamashah fund to give flip to start ups and to create a Bhamashah techno hub in the state. Incubation centres for start-ups will be set up in Kota and Udaipur, she said.

In her reply, the CM also announced pension of ₹1, 500 every month for people suffering from leprosy, and also increases the honorarium of home guard personnel in the state. She added that 2,500 home guards will be recruited and 6,000 posts of police head constables will be created to enhance chances of promotion of constables who have minimum 18 years service.

Hitting at the Opposition, Raje said the most important announcement in the budget was the waiver of loan up to ₹50,000 for small and marginal farmers, which has came as a shock for the Congress.

It was the first time that loans of farmers had been waived off in Rajasthan and the Congress was responsible for the present condition of farmers in the state.

The Congress ruled the country for the last 50 years but did not take care of farmers, she said.

She further said that the farmers’ debt relief commission for settlement of crop loan was also announced in the budget, which will be given statutory status and a bill will be introduced in the state assembly.

At present farmers are paid for purchase of sugarcane based on gate area and out-gate area.

JAIPUR