“The prime minister has said that ministry of power must strive to complete electrification of 200 villages every week by following up with state implementing agencies regularly”, an official familiar with the matter said, adding, that progress with regard to electrification of villages should be properly highlighted.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined the importance of irrigation for farmers.
“The Budget gives the government an opportunity to deepen the economic foundation and widen the infrastructure network of our country”.
“The biggest focus of this Budget is village, poor, farmer, women and youth”.
He said the highest-ever target of Rs 9 lakh crore as agriculture loans to farmers and highest ever allocation of Rs 38,500 crore to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme is bound to benefit rural economy. Referring to the proposals made for the healthcare sector, Modi said the government has taken several initiatives in the field.
The government also courted controversy over proposed changes to the land acquisition law that the Opposition dubbed “anti-farmer”, prompting party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to term the Centre “suit boot ki sarkar”.
“Decision to provide Rs. 2,87,000 crore grant-in-aid to gram panchayats and municipalities will go a long way in strengthening panchayati raj institutions”, he said.
Congratulations to the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley on presenting an excellent Union Budget for 2016-17.
Modi, who was addressing a farmers’ rally in Bareilly on Sunday, said, “I am not here to criticise anyone but only to urge all states to give priority to the implementation of the road map for boosting the agriculture sector with a common aim of doubling the income of the farmers in 2022 when we celebrate the 75th year of our Independence”.
Prime Minster also said that Indian economy is strong and it is a ray of hope in the world economy. The veteran leader said the most heartening aspect of the budget is its strong emphasis on the neglected task of revitalisation of agriculture and rural development, since more than two-thirds of India’s population continues to live in rural areas.
“The budget clearly calls for electrifying all villages thus giving an impetus to rural infrastructure”, he said in his comments.
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He said amid worldwide recession, India has emerged as a bright spot.
