4 years of Vijay Rupani govt: Gujarat takes lead in becoming ‘AtmaNirbhar’, focus on ‘innovation-driven ecosystem’

New Delhi: Vijay Rupani government completed its four year in office on August 7. He took over from Anandiben on Aug 7, 2016, who quit the post amid Patidar agitation in the state. With this, Vijay Rupani has become the 5th Chief Minister in the state from a total of 16 CMs till date, to complete 4 years in office.

Under Vijay Rupani’s stellar leadership, Gujarat has taken long strides in all sectors aimed at inclusive growth and all-round prosperity for its citizens. The Gujarat model of development has got more strength and vigour under Rupani’s stewardship.

Rupani government has consistently undertaken several innovative measures to fulfill the aspirations and expectations of people of the state. As a result, the development journey of Gujarat has become a benchmark for others to follow.

Though Year 2020 has mostly been under lockdown due to Coronavirus, we take a look at how Rupani government kept the state’s growth trajectory moving.

Rs 14,000 Gujarat AtmaNirbhar package

In line with Centre’s ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’, the Gujarat government in June 2020 announced a relief package of Rs 14,000 crore to help revive the economy battered by extended lockdown. The package provided tax rebates to consumers and loan subsidy to business and shop owners.

Rs 14,000 Gujarat AtmaNirbhar package sought to provide all required assistance to all affected sections of the society as to ensure that don’t wither under crisis but stay afloat and keep contributing their lot in the economic growth of state.

Under the package, Commercial establishments, businesses, offices, hotels, restaurants, shops and hospitals were given a rebate of 20% in their annual property tax bills while residential property owners were given 10% rebate. This was estimated to give direct benefit to people to the tune of Rs 744 crore.

The government announced subsidy for various industries to the tune of Rs 3,038 crore. In a bid to revive the housing sector, government announced Rs 1,000 crore.

The government said it will give loan interest subsidy of 4 per cent for loans of up to Rs 2.5 lakh for business and shop owners.

It earmarked Rs 466 crore for labour welfare, which included benefits of Rs 35,000 to each tribal labourer who works in different parts of the state and wanted to build a house in his hometown.

Other benefits of Rs 5,044 crore, which include free ration to poor families during the period of lockdown and direct transfer of Rs 1,000 in their accounts.

Amid lockdown, CM Rupani unveils projects via video conferencing

Coronavirus-induced lockdown restricted people movement, impeded office work but Vijay Rupani continued to push through his endeavour in making Gujarat a self-sufficient state in all respects.

Rainwater harvesting project in 1,000 schools

In one of first successful experiments, CM Rupani launched first such successful experiment of rainwater harvesting in government school of Vadodara district through video conference.

Detailing about the planned steps taken to make Gujarat a water surplus state Rupani said that, Gujarat has shown a new hope to the nation through Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan, reuse of water, 10 desalination plants to make seawater drinkable, purify wastewater in cities and metros.

Project to make Gujarat tourism hotspot

On July 16, CM Rupani inaugurated and laid foundation of various tourism and pilgrimage projects worth Rs 126 crore through e-launching event from Gandhinagar.

The projects include dedication of facilities for tourists worth Rs 45 Crore at Somnath under Prasad Yojana and laid foundation stone of Uparkot Fort work at Junagadh, Raiyali Musium fase-2 work, various works at Dhorado-white dessert, Shrimad Rajchandra Bhavn and Vir Meghmaya Smarak Bhavn.

Launch of Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020

A day after completing 4 years in power, Vijay Rupani govt announced the launch of Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020, which aims to create employment opportunities, give impetus to manufacture and prepare the ground for ‘innovation-driven ecosystem’ in the state.

Under the policy, the state govt has earmarked Rs 40,000 crore as subsidies to industries in the next five years. This will help lease out government land to industrialists, provide incentives to private industrial parks and also provide “relocation incentives” to units looking to relocate in wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, while announcing the new policy, said the companies which want to shift their operations from China were welcome to set up base in Gujarat.

“In this time of coronavirus pandemic we are coming out with a policy with an aim to create more jobs, increase manufacturing and have an innovation-driven ecosystem towards making `Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) Gujarat,” he said.

Incentives, Exemptions to give fillip to Industries/MSMEs

Under the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020, the industrial units will get capital subsidy and tax incentives. In a bold step, incentives have been delinked from state GST.

Government land will be given to industries on long-term lease of upto 50 years at 6 per cent of the market rate while industries will continue to get exemption from electricity duty for five years.

MSMEs will also be eligible for capital subsidy of up to 25 per cent of eligible loan amount up to Rs 35 lakh. They will be encouraged to install solar rooftop projects in their premises with a higher tariff of Rs 2.25 per unit for the solar power generated against Rs 1.75.

The policy also provides incentives to private developers for setting up private industrial parks on the state. The incentive will be 25 per cent of fixed capital investment up to Rs 30 crore.

Exemplary Covid-19 fight; Govt’s ‘humane face’ wins hearts

Gujarat government not only put a strong fight against Covid-19 pandemic but also took early and concrete steps which emerged as the benchmark for others states.

On its 4th anniversary, Rupani government organized a meeting of close relatives of 35 state govt employees who perished in fight against Covid-19.

CM Vijay Rupani hosted an event at his residence in Gandhinagar as part of his ‘Mukhyamantri Sathe, Mokla Mane (At ease with the Chief Minister)’ initiative with close relatives of 35 government employees who died in the line of duty during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Most of the family members of the deceased ‘Corona warriors’ demanded government jobs on compassionate grounds, following which the CM said that all such families are getting Rs 25 lakh as compensation from the CM’s Relief Fund.

‘Mukhyamantri Sathe, Mokla Mane’ is Rupani’s initiative wherein he interacts with people from various segments of the society at his official residence in Gandhinagar once a month.

Rupani said that on the occasion of his government entering its 5th year, he wanted to meet the family members of the government employees who had died in the line of duty during the pandemic.

Rupani also assured the families of looking into the rules, to see if anything could be done for providing them government jobs on compassionate grounds.