Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has lauded Budget 2024 as a ‘dream budget’ for various sections of society, especially youth and women, highlighting a significant capital expenditure of over Rs 11 lakh crore.
Rijiju pointed out that the budget includes crucial announcements for Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and the Northeast, aimed at boosting the economy of Eastern Bharat. He praised the historic measures for skilling and employment generation and appreciated the support schemes for women.
The minister also mentioned the steps taken to enhance banking services in the Northeast, ensuring the financial mainstreaming of the region. He emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 is clearly reflected in the budget.
Rijiju noted that Opposition criticism of the budget indicates its robustness. He highlighted the budget’s comprehensive approach, including growth-oriented measures and tax rebates for the middle class.
Addressing the issue of floods in Bihar, Rijiju acknowledged it as a national concern. He also questioned the Opposition’s objections to the financial grants given to Andhra Pradesh.
In addition, the budget includes a proposal to enhance financial inclusion in the Northeastern States by establishing 100 new branches of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) across the region. This initiative, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is part of a broader effort to improve banking access in underserved areas.
IPPB, which currently serves millions of account holders through numerous branches nationwide, aims to strengthen its presence in the Northeast with these new facilities.
Sitharaman accentuated the government’s commitment to enhancing financial infrastructure as a crucial step toward equitable development across all regions. The new branches will offer a range of banking services, further integrating the remote and economically diverse areas of the Northeast into the formal financial system.
