Budget focused on basic amenities for all, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a conclave on 'Aatmanirbhar Arthvyavastha' event via video conferencing on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. (Source: Twitter@narendramodi)

A day after the presentation of the Union Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told partymen that it was focussed on providing basic amenities for the poor, the middle class and the youth. At a function organised by the BJP called “Aatmanirbhar Arthvyavastha”, Prime Minister Modi said his government was working on the saturation of basic services for all, especially the poor.

“After the second World War, there was a change in the world order and post COVID too we will be seeing a reordering of the world order. People, globally, want to see an empowered and strong India. It is imperative for us that we take our country forward at a rapid pace and strengthen it across several sectors,” he said. “It is very important that India not only becomes self-reliant but also that a modern India is built on the foundation of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.”

Leaving aside the political angle, the Budget has been welcomed by all quarters, he noted.Prime Minister Modi also said migration from border villages was not good for national security and the Budget has provisions to develop “vibrant villages” there. The vibrant village programme will benefit border villages in Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, he said.

Watch | Highlights of Union Budget 2022-23 

He said very soon every village will have optical fibre connectivity and 5G technology will usher in a new era. On the announcement for launching the digital rupee, Prime Minister Modi said it would open up new opportunities for the Fintech sector.

Mr. Modi pointed out that the Budget proposes to make a four-fold increase in public investments from the UPA years.

Talking about the agri sector, he said a of lot things were said about the minimum support price (MSP) but farmers are expected to get more than ₹1.5 lakh crore as MSP for paddy this season. He said the houses provided under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana scheme have in a way turned the poor intolakhpatis .

“In the last seven years, we have given three crore poor people ‘pucca’ houses, and made them ‘lakhpatis’. Those who lived in slums, have their own houses. Our government has increased the price and size of these houses so that there is space for education for children. Out of this, most of the houses are in the name of women. We have also made women ‘maalkins’ [owners],”he said.