Rajasthan Budget proposes Rs 6,800 cr to provide tap water, Rs 3,000 cr for solar parks
Jaipur (PTI): Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari on Wednesday proposed Rs 6,800 crore to provide tap water to the rural and urban population and around Rs 3,000 crore for building solar parks in Bikaner and Jaisalmer in the state Budget for 2026-27.
Presenting the Budget for the year 2026-27, the finance minister Kumari highlighted the impact of structural reforms and prudent financial management undertaken by the present government and said the state's economic size has expanded significantly.
She said under the CM Jal Jeevan Mission villages will be covered and every household will be connected to tap water. This will cost Rs 4,500 crore. Drinking water will be provided in cities at a cost of Rs 2,300 crore.
New solar parks will be built in Bikaner and Jaisalmer at Rs 2,950 crore.
Under the CM Self-Employment Scheme, interest-free loans and grants up to Rs 10 lakh will be provided. This will benefit 30,000 youth.
Moreover, Rs 1,400 crore will be spent on non-patchable roads and Rs 600 crore on missing link roads.
The Finance Minister said Rajasthan's economy is estimated to touch Rs 21,52,100 crore in 2026-27, and the per capita income of the state will also rise from Rs 1.67 lakh to Rs 2.02 lakh by the end of 2025-26.
Kumari said the growth reflects the government's focus on strengthening the economy through fiscal discipline and policy reforms.
She said Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is continuously striving to take the state forward on the path of economic prosperity, sustainable and inclusive development, embracing the core principles of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas."
In her budget speech, she said, "To realize the vision of a developed Rajasthan by 2047, our government, under the able leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, has prioritized service, dedication, and good governance, keeping in mind the important role of the poor, youth, farmers, and women in this development journey."
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SC asks states to treat rising child trafficking cases as grave; seeks coordinated action
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has voiced grave concern over rising cases of child trafficking, saying gangs are operating across the country and if States and Union territories do not take immediate action, thing will go beyond control.
The court said only the state government and its home department can act vigilantly in this regard.
“As a court we can monitor, but ultimately the action has to be on the part of the state government, the police, and other agencies. Therefore, this is our humble request”, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said during the hearing of a plea on Wednesday.
The bench was irked over the "lackadaisical" approach of several states and UTs in implementing a 2025 judgment aimed at dismantling organised trafficking networks.
Justice Viswanathan said the retrieval of children in some cases proves the problem can be tackled, but it requires a level of political and administrative will which is lacking at present.
The verdict, delivered on April 15, 2025, had mandated several institutional reforms, including completion of trials in trafficking cases within six months on a day-to-day basis.
It had also directed strengthening of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and improving investigation standards.
Besides asking for setting up of state-level committees to monitor vulnerable trafficking hotspots, it had asked the authorities to treat missing children cases as trafficking unless proven otherwise.
Earlier, the bench had termed the compliance reports filed by a few states as "nothing but an eye wash."
On Wednesday, the bench noted that Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Punjab had still failed to file reports in the prescribed format.
When the home secretary of Madhya Pradesh offered an apology for the lapse, the bench granted a "final opportunity" but warned that continued failure would lead to states being officially branded as "defaulting".
The bench noted that at least 15 states are yet to constitute review committees mandated to identify and monitor trafficking-prone areas.
The matter will now be heard on April 29.
