Tribal state Jharkhand is going to benefit much from the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as the Union Government has allocated Rs 12,414 crore for the tribal affairs ministry in Union Budget 2023-2024. This is at least one and half times more than the sum announced last year.
As per budget provisions, there has been substantial hike in the Schedule Tribe component (STC) allocated to different Ministries for tribal welfare programmes relating to their respective scheme. Last year the allocation was Rs. 87,524 crores, however, this year there has been a hike in budget allocations.
Sources said that a Development Mission for primitive tribes will be launched to improve the socio-economic condition of tribal groups, so that the primitive tribes’ settlements can be equipped with basic facilities. Rs 15,000 crore will be made available to implement the scheme in the next 3 years.
The special package will provide support to the vulnerable tribes in the areas of health, clean water, sanitation, education, basic infrastructure and also empower them with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Meanwhile, the State BJP unit has hailed the Union Budget. State BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP, Deepak Prakash has termed the budget as Pro People Pro Development budget. Prakash said that the budget has paid interest to village, poor, farmers, youth, women, tribals, Dalits, backward classes. The budget focuses on seven points which are Inclusive development, Antyodaya, infrastructure development, skill upgradation, green development, youth and financial sector.
The BJP MP said that due to economic growth in Country, the per capita income of the people in Country has doubled. Special provisions have been made for the promotion of organic farming along with digital training for the farmers.
Initiative to start the fourth phase of digital library, skill development, with the appointment of 38 thousand teachers in Eklavya schools, a meaningful initiative has been taken in the direction of providing opportunities to the nectar generation of youth power.
Appreciating the budget, the leader of the BJP Legislature Party and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said that this budget is the budget of growing India, changing India. It is said that this is a budget to rapidly translate the idea of self-reliant India on the ground.
Marandi said that this is an employment-oriented budget, which will create employment not only in government sectors but also in all sectors by promoting agriculture, tourism, environment, and startups.
Former BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Mahesh Poddar said that the budget is away from politics with focus on economic growth of the Country. Relaxation in the Income Tax slab is a welcome step , but at the same time focus is on bringing reforms in Income Tax. Poddar said that for Jharkhand Eklavya Schools, opening up nursing colleges, allocations in railway, urban areas will be beneficial.
BJP State Spokesperson Pratul Shahdev said that Jharkhand has directly benefited a lot from the Union Budget. An amount of Rs 15,000 crore has been allocated in three years under the Prime Minister's Development Mission in the tribal scheme, which will provide housing, drinking water to tribal villages. A target has been set to improve roads and education.
19 districts of Jharkhand will be directly benefited by increasing the duration of the ongoing scheme in aspirational districts, where the Center will directly send funds for development. Local people will also benefit from the plan to make tribal villages attractive for national and international tourists.