Gandhinagar, February 19 – The Gujarat government has allocated ₹2,000 crore in this year's state budget to implement region-specific economic development plans for six parts of the state, said Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education, Trikam Chhanga, on Thursday.
He stated that the initiative aims to ensure "holistic and balanced development" based on local needs.
Responding to the budget, Chhanga said that economic development plans had been prepared for Kutch, South Gujarat, Central Gujarat, North Gujarat, Saurashtra, and the coastal region of Saurashtra.
"Projects have been prepared according to the needs of each region, which will promote economic activities, employment generation, and investment. A provision of ₹2,000 crore has been made for this purpose," he said.
Chhanga stated that the budget for 2026-27 makes a record allocation of over ₹63,000 crore for education. "By placing education at the center of development, the highest-ever historic provision has been made," he said, adding that greater importance had also been given to the overall development of Kutch.
Among specific measures for Kutch, ₹230 crore has been allocated for works on the Dudhai Sub-Branch Canal. An additional ₹97 crore has been earmarked for the removal of prosopis juliflora (gando baval) in Kutch and other forest areas, plantation of bamboo and other native trees, and grassland restoration in the Banni grasslands.
Provision has also been made to assist milk producer cooperative unions in Kutch and Saurashtra in developing infrastructure facilities.
Additionally, ₹28 crore has been allocated for 10 Community Health Centres in Kutch, Valsad, Dang, Narmada, and Chhota Udepur districts.
Detailing education initiatives, Chhanga said ₹400 crore has been provided under the Chief Minister Yuva Swavalamban Yojana to assist more than 90,000 students.
"Sixteen new government colleges will be started, construction works in 20 functional colleges will be undertaken, and additional streams will be introduced in eight existing colleges," he said, referring to the ₹126 crore provision. ₹96 crore has been allocated for sports facilities in government colleges and universities.
He added that ₹80 crore has been set aside for i-Hub in Ahmedabad and its four regional centres, ₹67 crore for physical and IT infrastructure in government technical institutions, and ₹51 crore each for two new boys' hostel blocks and a research park at L.D. College of Engineering in Ahmedabad.
Separately, during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address in the Assembly, Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja said the government was moving forward with an aim of 'development for all'.
He said the annual income limit for post-matric scholarships for Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste students had been increased from ₹2.50 lakh to ₹6 lakh, and that a relief package of more than ₹11,000 crore had been announced for farmers affected by floods and unseasonal rain.