IANS | 23 Jul, 2024
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday hailed the Union
Budget 2024-25 as middle-class oriented, forward-looking and described the
government's unprecedented push on the jobs and employment generation as a key
step to the country’s intensive growth and prosperous future.
He added that the Budget reflects the thoughtful handling of the economy
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, the Union Minister said, “In the
past ten years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strengthened India’s economy
in a very thoughtful and methodical manner. He has handled every segment of the
economy, every part of the country, and every section of society with care.
Today's budget reflects the continuity of that vision and policy.”
“Today, five schemes with employment focus have been announced and an
allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore made, such colossal employment generation program
is among the firsts. Internship and Employment-linked incentives are innovative
programs aimed at enhancing engagement of youth in formal sectors,” he said
further.
He described the change in tax slab rates as a welcome step for
middle-class income families as it will help them realise the dream of owning a
house.
He stated that in the third term of the Modi government, there has been
a strong focus on employment, middle-class families, tribal areas, and
manufacturing in this Budget. Such comprehensive focus has never been seen in
India's history.
The Union Minister for Railways, Electronics & Information
Technology and Information & Broadcasting also took umbrage at the
Opposition’s baseless charges and shared data to set records straight.
“When the opposition party was in power, the budget allocation was
around 35 thousand crores. Today, PM Modi has given a budget allocation of 2.62
lakh crores to the Railways. Out of this, Rs 1.08 lakh crore has been earmarked
for enhancing the safety and security of the country’s leading carrier,” the
Union Minister told IANS.
“In 60 years (before 2014), only 20,000 km of railway tracks were
electrified which increased to about 40,000 km in the past 10 years,” he added.
The Union Minister further said that the transformative changes in
Railways infrastructure have resulted in comfortable and hassle-free journey
for passengers and this will see further progress, in times to come.
Outlining the government’s focus on the North-East region, he said that
during Congress rule, Odisha used to get Rs 800 crore but that got spiked to Rs
10,000 crore in NDA’s tenure.
Responding to Mallikarjun Kharge’s charge of ‘step-motherly treatment’
to farmers and youth, the Railways Minister said that the facts available in
the public domain puncture Congress and Opposition claims.
“Opposition parties have nothing substantial to say on the Budget. They
should step back and introspect in hindsight as to what was the scenario during
their times. Today, the formal as well as informal sector is growing. Last year
alone, 1.44 crore formal jobs were created,” he told the newsmen.
--IANS