Budget spelt out key priorities for Viksit Bharat: Pemmasani
Says between last budget and this budget, Centre has implemented 365 reforms, which have greatly benefited businessmen, common man
Union Minister of State for Rural Development & Communication Pemmasani Chandrasekhar speaking at a media conference in Visakhapatnam on Sunday
Visakhapatnam: Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandrasekhar said on Sunday that the Union Budget has prioritised the strategies on achieving targets for developing Vikasit Bharat.
Speaking at a press conference here, he explained the salient features of the budget and the vision of the Central Government under the pragmatic stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and blamed the Congress and other Opposition parties for spreading false propaganda out of jealousy as India is heading towards emerging as a developed country.
Chandrasekhar said "from a state of lack of infrastructure and lack of vision between 2004-2014, the country has moved in a clear direction under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in the last 12 years.
Between the last budget and this budget, the Central Government has implemented 365 reforms, which have greatly benefited businessmen and the common man."
He said simplification of GST has not only increased government revenue, but prices of small cars have come down by around Rs80,000.
Also, GST on health insurance, life insurance and education has been reduced to zero.
The tax exemption limit has been increased to Rs12 lakh to improve purchasing power and strengthen the economy.
The unemployment rate which was 5-6 per cent in 2018-19 has come down to 3 per cent now.
The defence budget has been increased by 21 per cent from last year to Rs2.2 lakh crore from Rs1.8 lakh crore..
The Minister said the manufacturing sector has been given a shot in the arm as part of Make in India initiative.
The requirement to spend 75 per cent of the defence budget on indigenous equipment will increase domestic employment opportunities and innovation. Defence exports from`600 crores have today reached Rs25,000 crores.
On infrastructure push, he said the budget for highways has been increased by 10 per cent compared to last year.
There is a 10 per cent increase in the railway budget. Seven high-speed railway corridors are being constructed, of which Andhra Pradesh will also benefit.
He said the rural development (VBG Ram Ji Scheme) budget has been increased by 10 per cent and justified the introduction of the replacement of erstwhile Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) by increasing the funds from Rs85,000 crore to Rs95,000 crore.
He said the Centre has increased working days to 125 days and brought down 40 per cent State share provision to reduce corruption.
TDP State president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao, Visakha East MLA V. Ramakrishna Babu and Visakha North MLA and BJP floor leader P. Vishnu Kumar Raju were present.
