The Gujarat government on Tuesday announced that farmers in the poll-bound state would not have to pay the Goods and Services Tax for using drip irrigation, NDTV reported. The 18%-GST on drip irrigation will be borne by the state-run Gujarat Green Revolution Company.
This is likely to cost the government Rs 78 crore annually.
The government also said on Tuesday that Accredited Social Health Activists – ASHA workers – in the state would get a 50%-increase in their salaries, ANI reported.
Dates for Assembly elections in Gujarat have not been announced yet. The Election Commission has been criticised for announcing the poll dates for Himachal Pradesh, but not Gujarat. This meant that the Model Code of Conduct has not come into effect in Gujarat yet, and the government has time to make populist announcements.
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