Though the government didn't announce new projects, schemes, or programmes, it increased the budgetary allocation to several flagship schemes.
Published Feb 01, 2024 | 10:48 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 01, 2024 | 10:50 PM
The Union Government increases budgetary allocations to several schemes including MGNREGA in the interim budget on Thursday. (South First)
In a significant fiscal development, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led-Union government bolstered its commitment to key flagship schemes in the interim budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, with notable increases in budgetary allocations across various sectors.
Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim budget for 2024-25 on Thursday, 1 February. She presented a record sixth consecutive budget as the finance minister.
Though the government has not announced any new projects, schemes, or programmes, it has increased budgetary allocation to several flagship schemes.
The Union government has increased budgetary allocation to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, nuclear power projects, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, and others.
It may be noted that the Opposition had criticised the Union government for reducing the budgetary allocation for several schemes, including MGNREGS, in the previous budget.
The MGNREGS, which provides guaranteed employment and income to villagers, witnessed a substantial boost, with the budget soaring to ₹86,000 crore compared to the previous fiscal year’s allocation of ₹60,000 crore, accounting for a whopping 43.3 percent increase.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which provides subsidies to build affordable houses for low-income residents, saw a marginal rise, reaching ₹80,671 crore from the 2023-24 allotment of ₹79,590 crore — an increase of 1.14 percent.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing drinking water connection to homes, maintained a steady financial backing at ₹70,163 crore, aligning closely with the ₹70,000 crore allotted in the previous fiscal year — a hike of a mere 0.23 percent.
As for nutrition and healthcare initiatives, Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 receive heightened attention, with the budget rising to ₹21,200 crore from the 2023-24 allocation of ₹20,554 crore — an increase of 3.14 percent.
Nuclear power projects experienced a substantial increase in allocation, reaching ₹2,228 crore from the meagre ₹442 crore allotted in the preceding fiscal year — an increase of a whopping 404.07 percent.
The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana witnessed a positive surge, with the allocation reaching ₹7,500 crore, surpassing the 2023-24 figure of ₹7,200 crore with an increase of 4.17 percent.
Health infrastructure saw a commendable boost, with the National Health Mission receiving an allocation of ₹38,183 crore, compared to the previous fiscal year’s ₹36,785 crore — a hike of 3.8 percent.
Lastly, the National Livelihood Mission-Ajeevika allocation saw an increment to ₹15,047 crore, compared to the 2023-24 allocation of ₹14,129 crore — or 6.5 percent.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, aimed at supplying foodgrains to migrants and the poor, took centre stage with a significant allotment of ₹2,05,250 crore.
