Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has welcomed Union Budget 2024-25 as a development-oriented and visionary budget.
Majhi said that the budget has focussed on four key categories ‘Poor’, ‘Women’, ‘Youth’ and ‘Annadata’ (farmers) emphasized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This budget focuses on agricultural productivity, skill development, and employment generation. The allocation of Rs 1.52 lakh crore to the agriculture sector and Rs 3 lakh crore to the schemes for women shows the commitment of the Central government for the all-round development of farmers and women,” stated Majhi.
The Union Budget has set a target for the construction of 3 crore new houses in the next 5 years both in rural and urban areas and has increased the outlay on the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). This initiative will especially benefit the people of Odisha, Majhi pointed out.
“To improve the social and economic status of the tribal communities, the Central Government has announced a new scheme called Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan. It will cover 63,000 villages benefiting 5 crore tribals. This will benefit the tribals of Odisha,” the Chief Minister said.
He stated that Rs2 lakh crore is planned to be spent on skill development and other opportunities for 4.10 crore youth in the next 5 years. The youth of Odisha will be particularly benefited by this, he added.
The total investment in the Central budget has been increased to 11.11 lakh crore rupees, which will contribute to the growth of the country. The amount of assistance to states for capital expenditure has been increased to Rs 1. 50 lakh crore. By this, Odisha will get additional assistance of about one thousand crore rupees. This was the demand in the pre-budget discussions with the Union Finance Minister, the Chief Minister has pointed out.
The Chief Minister has thanked the Union Finance Minister for accepting the demand.
“We are grateful for the announcement of special assistance in the Union budget for the development of tourism in Odisha. Odisha has been included in the Swatantra Purvodaya Yojana. It will help in securing investment and industrial development,” Majhi said.
