Farmers’ representatives met Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday to demand tax exemptions, better sanitation, and improved healthcare and education in the upcoming Delhi Budget 2025. The meeting was part of the government’s efforts to incorporate public feedback.
Key Demands from Farmers
- House Tax Exemptions: Farmers demanded long-pending house tax exemptions in Lal Dora and extended Lal Dora areas.
- Increased Land Circle Rate: Farmers urged the government to increase circle rates to ₹5 crore per acre.
- Ownership Rights & Alternative Plots: They requested free ownership rights for heirs of ancestral properties and alternative plots for lands acquired by Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
- Smart Villages: Farmers proposed the development of smart villages on the lines of smart cities.
- Infrastructure Improvements: They highlighted issues such as unclean sewer lines, poor drainage, waterlogging, bad road infrastructure, and inadequate public transport in rural areas.
Government’s Response
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta assured that the government would incorporate farmers’ demands into the “Viksit Delhi” Budget, scheduled to be presented on March 25. She emphasized that farmers are not just “annadaatas” (food providers) but also play a crucial role in maintaining Delhi’s green environment.
The CM promised action on:
- Beautification of village ponds
- Use of gram sabha land for development
- Electricity expansion in rural areas
- Modern irrigation techniques
- Better access to central government schemes
The Delhi Assembly Budget Session will be held from March 24 to March 28, marking the first budget of the BJP-led government.
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