Sunday, Aug 04, 2024 11:15 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Aug 04, 2024 05:36 [IST]
GANGTOK,: BJP national spokesperson Dr. Sambit Patra on Saturday evening sensitized the civil society of Sikkim on how the Union Budget 2024-25 lays the foundation for ‘Vikshit Bharat 2047’ with special focus on transforming youth of India into a skilled, employable human resource.
Representatives of associations, chamber of commerce, college students, women SHGs, journalists, political parties and other sections of the society attended the Union Budget 2024-25 briefing session organized by the economic cell of the State BJP here at Gangtok.
Every section of the society has found representation in a rightful manner in this budget…education and skilling has been given focus and this budget will determine the future of India, expressed the BJP national spokesperson during his engagement with the Sikkim civil society.
Dr. Patra shared that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, through the Union Budget 2024-25, has come up with five schemes and initiatives for employment, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over a 5-year period with a central outlay of Rs. 2 lakh crore. Among these initiatives include an internship scheme in 500 top companies to 1 crore youth in five years during which these interns would also receive Rs. 5000 as monthly stipend, and setting up 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes across the nation to skill the youth in various trades and making them employable.
Another major takeaway from the Union Budget was enhanced allocation for capital expenditure for infrastructure projects like colleges, roads and bridges in the country. The budget also allocates more than Rs. 3 lakh crore in schemes benefiting women and girls to promote women-led development of India.
Around 25,000 left-out villages would be provided with all-weather roads through PM Gram Sadak Yojana phase-IV being launched through this budget. Similarly, the Union Budget has a provision of Rs. 2.66 lakh crore for rural development and rural infrastructure, besides allocating Rs. 1.52 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sector.
Dr. Patra informed that new 109 high-yielding and climate resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops will be released for cultivation by farmers. In the next 2 years, 1 crore farmers across the country will be initiated into natural farming, he said, adding that Sikkim is known globally for its natural farming. He emphasized that despite the large-scale allocations, the Union Budget is well within the fiscal discipline.
The BJP national spokesperson also shared data on Sikkim’s share in the Union tax devolution, informing that Rs. 4839.17 crore as tax devolution has been budgeted for Sikkim 2024-25. He mentioned that there has been a 508% increase in tax devolution to Sikkim when the data between 2004-14 (UPA government) and 2014-24 (NDA government) is compared.
Similarly, Sikkim received Rs. 11,827 crore as Central grants-in-aid during the UPA government but saw a 50% increase amounting to Rs. 17,718 crore under the NDA regime.
Dr. Patra further shared that Sikkim is altogether receiving Rs. 2062 crore from 2020-21 to 2024-25 under the Central scheme of Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure to build public infrastructure. He also responded to the questions asked by the audience regarding different aspects of the Union Budget related with Sikkim.
Earlier, State BJP president DR Thapa placed the welcome address.
