Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday proposed measures targeting PM Modi’s four key areas including welfare of youth, women, farmers and the poor.
Sitharaman said the government is focusing on improving conditions for the poor, women, youth and farmers, setting the tone for welfare schemes announced in these areas.
“…yuva, women, those who give us the food security, good farmers, and then the unfortunate poor who still need additional support to rise up. So, (focus) only on these four groups, everything will be be focused on their betterment. Then you don’t really get into this whole thing about you know which caste which community which religion, everyone is covered,” she said.
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More Lakhpati Didis
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced that the Modi government will increase the target of women beneficiaries under its Lakhpati Didi Scheme to three crore women from two crore.
“83 lakh Self Help Groups with nine crore women are transforming the rural socio-economic landscape, and have already helped nearly one crore women become lakhpati didis,” Sitharaman said while presenting the interim Budget for the next fiscal year starting April 1, 2024.
Sitharaman also recounted the Modi government’s previous schemes for women, while also praising the participation of Indian women in the workforce and in STEM courses.
“Female enrollment in higher education increases by 28 percent in 10 years, in STEM courses, girls and women make up 43 percent of enrollment, one of the highest in the world. All these steps are reflected in the increasing participation of women. in the workforce. Making triple talaq illegal, reservation of 1/3 seats for women in parliament and state assemblies, more than 70 percent houses under PM Awas Yojana to women increased their dignity,” said the Finance Minister.
Additionally, she revealed that Rs 34 crore Mudra Yojana loans have been extended to women entrepreneurs, promoting financial inclusion and empowerment.
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The Finance Minister also announced that the government will encourage cervical cancer vaccination for girls between the ages of nine and 14.
“Our government will encourage vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years to provide prevention of cervical cancer,” she said.
Continued focus on Skill India Mission for youth
In her interim budget speech, Nirmala Sitharaman said that as many as 1.4 crore youth have been trained and up-skilled under the Skill India Mission.
The mission focuses on skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling through short-term and long-term training programs.
Under the mission, the government, through more than 20 central ministries/departments, is implementing various skill development schemes across the country.
She also said that there is macroeconomic stability and the country’s economy is doing well.
She added that the government is focusing on more comprehensive GDP, governance, development and performance
Targeting atmanirbhar annadatas (farmers)
Finance Ministry said that a strategy will be developed for Atma Nirbharta for the production of oilseeds and suggested that efforts of the value addition in agricultural sector and increasing income of farmers will be strengthened.
After the adoption of Nano Urea, application of Nano DAP on various crops will be expanded in all agro-climatic zones.
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To ensure faster growth of the sector Government will further promote private and public investment in post-harvest activities including aggregation, modern storage, efficient supply chains, primary and secondary processing and marketing and branding.
Food, lodgings for the poor
Union finance minister Sitharaman said the government will launch a scheme to help a deserving section of the middle class living in rented houses or slums or chawls or unauthorized colonies to buy and build their own houses.
In addition to this, Sitharaman said, “Despite the challenges due to Covid, implementation of PM Awas Yojana Rural has continued and we are close to achieving the target of 3 crore houses. 2 crore more houses will be taken up in the next 5 years to meet the demand arising from an increase in the number of families.”
In his speech, the Finance Minister said that through rooftop solar, 1 crore households will be enabled to get up to 300 units of free electricity every month. “This scheme follows the decision of the Prime Minister on the historic day of the consecration of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya,” she added.
“In the last 10 years, we have targeted every household for houses for all, water for all, and cooking gas for all,” Sitharaman stated, emphasizing the comprehensive approach to addressing basic needs and improving living standards.