Focus on poor, women, youth and farmers as Nirmala Sitaraman presents Budget 2024-25

Presenting the interim budget of the union government for the 2024-25 financial year, finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman said the poor, women, youth and farmers are the new castes for the government and that the focus of Budget 2024-25 is their welfare.

“Their needs, their aspirations, and their welfare are our highest priority. The country progresses, when they progress. All four require and receive government support in their quest to better their lives. Their empowerment and well-being will drive the country forward”, she said.

Social justice, she said, is an effective and necessary governance model, adding that emphasis on reducing corruption has brought in transparency and ensured that benefits are delivered to all the eligible people. She stressed how ‘Direct Benefit Transfer’ achieved the above.  The focus of the government is on outcomes and not on outlays, she added.

Sitharaman stated that all-round, all-pervasive and all-inclusive approach of government towards development is in line with making India a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. For achieving this goal, we need to improve people’s capability and empower them, she added.   

She said the government believes in empowering the poor. “When the poor become empowered partners in the development process, government’s power to assist them also increases manifold.” The earlier approach of tackling poverty through entitlements had resulted in very modest outcomes, she pointed out.

The government, through focused initiatives, has facilitated freedom from multidimensional poverty for 250 million people over the past 10 years -  ration provisions now cover 800 million individuals; Direct Benefit Transfer of Rs34 lakh crore via PM Jan Dhan accounts, aimed at minimising leakages, resulted in substantial savings, redirecting funds toward welfare. Initiatives like PM Svanidhi, PM Janman Yojana, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, and schemes for Divyang and transgender empowerment demonstrate a commitment to leaving no one behind, the finance minister stated.