Chuba Ao welcomes Budget : Calls it pro-tribal, boosting 'New India'

DoNER funds more than doubled, raised to Rs 5892 cr from Rs 2800 cr 

New Delhi 

BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao on Wednesday welcomed the Budget 2023 saying it is pro-tribal and also that it continues to make India a "bright star in the global economy".

"It is a Budget for New India and a right one for Amrit Kal. I will specially welcome the new Pradhan Mantri PVTG (particularly vulnerable tribal groups) Development Mission. A total of Rs 15,000 crore will be made available to implement this scheme in the next three years," Chuba told 'Nagaland Page'.

Tribal population across India will get Rs 15,000 crore over next three years for safe housing, sanitation, drinking water, and electricity, the senior BJP leader said. 

It is a matter of utter satisfaction that the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has done well to reflect 'efficiency' in the implementation of schemes that has brought about inclusive development in the last eight-night years.  

"It is a matter of satisfaction that our national economy has increased in size from being the 10th to the 5h largest in the world," he said.

He further said this Budget gives "boost and necessary wings to New India initiatives".

Chuba, who is also in-charge of BJP Meghalaya, said the Budget for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has been increased from Rs 2800 crore to Rs 5892 crore.

The raise is 110 percent, he said. 

The BJP leader said the allocation for Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) is Rs 2200 crore. 

The seven priority areas of the Union Budget 2023 as pointed out by the Finance Minister also ought to be welcomed. They are reaching the last mile; infrastructure and investment; unleashing the potential; inclusive development; green growth; focus on youth; and the financial sector.

The new tax slabs for 2023-24 also were good, he said.  

There will be no tax payable for income up to Rs 7 lakh per annum under the new income tax regime.

“Currently, those with an income of up to Rs 5 lakhs don’t pay any income tax. I proposed to increase the tax rebate limit to Rs 7 lakhs in the new tax regime,” FM Ms Sitharaman said.

Chuba Ao also welcomed the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate that will allow deposits of up to Rs 2 lakh for two years at 7.5 per cent interest.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament

The government has decided to release wheat into the market due to which the price of wheat will come down. Before the budget, we had already taken action to ease wheat prices: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

# The Finance Minister said that India’s G20 presidency provides a unique opportunity to strengthen India’s role in the world economic order.

To spur investment in infrastructure, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, the government has decided to continue the 50-year interest-free loan to state governments for one more year to incentivize them for complementary policy actions, with a significantly enhanced outlay of 1.3 lakh crore rupees. 

In the 75th year of our Independence, the world has recognised the Indian economy as a ‘bright star’. 

Our current year’s economic growth is estimated to be at 7 per cent. It is notable that this is the highest among all the major economies. This is in spite of the massive slowdown globally caused by Covid-19 and a war. 

The Indian economy is therefore on the right track, and despite a time of challenges, heading towards a bright future.

Focussing on the Agriculture Sector, Ms Sitharaman said an Agriculture Accelerator Fund will be set-up to encourage agri-startups by young entrepreneurs in rural areas. The Fund will aim at bringing innovative and affordable solutions for challenges faced by farmers. The Finance Minister also announced that the agriculture credit target will be increased to 20 lakh crore rupees, with focus on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries.

Ms Sitharaman said, a plan will be implemented to set up massive decentralised storage capacity to help farmers store their produce and realize remunerative prices through sale at appropriate times. The year 2023 has been declared as the international year of millets.  The Finance Minister said, the Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad will be supported as the Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies at the international level in order to make India a global hub for 'Shree Anna'.

 

Continuing with the commitment to ensure food and nutritional for the poor, Ms Sitharaman said the  government will bear an expenditure of about  2 lakh crore rupees to supply free food grain to all Antyodaya and priority households for the next one year under PM GaribKalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The scheme is being implemented  from 1st January 2023.

 

Stating that traditional artisans and craftpeople have brought India renown for centuries, the Finance Minister said that for the time ,  a package of assistance under  PM-VISHWAKARMA KAUSHAL SAMMAN  has been conceptualized for them. The aim is to enable them to improve the quality, scale and reach of their products, integrating them with the MSME value chain.

 

In a further push for the government’s objective of housing for all, the Finance Minister said, an outlay for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana will be enhanced by 66 per cent to over  79,000 crore rupees. 

“PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth” will be launched to incentivize States and  Union Territories to promote alternative fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.