Budget 2016: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's big scheme announcements focus on rural India, agriculture and SC/STs

Presenting his third budget, Arun Jaitley today announced some key new schemes while presenting the Union Budget 2016. Here are the highlights-

AGRICULTURE
Stating that agriculture and the security of farmers are a chief area of focus for the government, he went ahead to state that under Fasal Bima Yojana, farmers would have to pay a nominal amount of insurance premium and a highest ever compensation in case of crop loss.
To ensure this is done, he has allocated Rs 5,500 crores in the Budget.

The allocation to Pradhan Mantri’s Gram Sadak Yojna to be increased to Rs 19,000 crore.

Additionally, to give further income security to the very people who ensure our food security, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley promised to double the income of farmers by 2022. Thus, an amount of Rs 35,894 crore has been set aside for the welfare of farmers this year.
The Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchaai Yojana is thus strengthened and implemented in mission mode.


LPG GAS CONNECTION FOR BPL FAMILIES

Jaitley also announced launching another initiative to provide cooking subsidy to BPL families so as to rid them from the adverse effects of chura cooking.

He explained that the government would provide a LPG connection to families in the name of the woman members. A sum of Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated to meet the initial cost of providing the LPG connection. According to the Finance Minister, approximately 1,50,00,000 BPL houses.

The scheme is expected to continue for more than two years and will cover atleast 5 crore houses.

This will not only ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country but will also improve women’s health and provide employment in supply chain of the cooking gases for the youth in rural areas.


DIGITAL LITERARY SCHEMES

As part of the government's increased rural push, Jaitley also launched two new digital literary schemes for rural India.


SWACCHH BHARAT ABHIGYAN

Additionally, Rs 9000 crore has been allocated for Swacchh Bharat Abhigyan in a bit to put an end to open defecation.


HEALTH INSURANCE

There’s also the health protection scheme which guarantees a health cover of Rs 1,30,000 for senior citizens. There will be an additional topup of Rs 30,000 per family and 300 generic drug stores to be opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadi Yojana.


STANDUP INDIA

As far as Standup India is concerned, Jaitley has allocated Rs 500 crore to ensure entrepreneurship to ST/SCs and women. He wants them to be job-givers and not seekers. Under this, two projects will be promoted ber bank per branch per category.

“On the occasion of B.R Ambedkar’s 125th anniversary, we must ensure that this must be the year of economic development for ST/SCs,” he said.


NATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT MISSION

Also, under the National Skill Development Mission which has imparted training to 76 lakh youth, 1500 multi skill-training institutes would be set up, Jaitley announced.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, the aim would be to skill 1 crore youth in the next 3 years.

BI VIEW: In times of distress, the Modi government turned to rural India. The cooking subsidy, digital literary scheme is bound to make a statement, so is the push for farmers' welfare in light of the drought and farmer suicides. Additionally, after Rohith Vermula's tragic death that captured the appetite of Indian citizens, encouraging entrepreneurship for SC/STs is undoubtedly a welcome change.

Image credit: PIB India