Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that the Union Budget 2024 made significant financial injection to boost infrastructure via Phase IV of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to provide all weather connectivity to the remote areas including the Northeast.
Speaking at the discussion with the leaders of business community, youth as well as women in Shillong today, Sonowal said that the PMGSY has already connected 3,482 km of roads across Meghalaya, with a total cost of Rs. 2310.76 crores since 2014.
He also said that the budget has made a provision of Rs. 2.66 lakh crores for rural development including rural infrastructure for the region.
“Another Rs. 19, 338 crores in the Union Budget 2024 for improvement in Northeast’s Road and highway connectivity, which will highly enhance the tourist infrastructure in the region, including Meghalaya,” he said.
Sonowal further added that the budget also aims at boosting the manufacturing and services sector, especially through the MUDRA scheme that provides necessary credit support to the MSME. He said that this will not only empower the entrepreneurial prospects but also create huge employment opportunities.
“It is the vision of the PM that a new Credit Guarantee Scheme will also support the MSMEs to enhance their operational capabilities and foster growth in the region’s industrial sector,” he said.
According to him, the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), a unique intervention by the Modi government offers Rs.15, 000 in three instalments to first time employees and it will be integrated with the Meghalaya Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy.
“This will boost industrial development and job creation in the state. To enable youth power, 1000 ITIs will be upgraded as well as setting up of women’s hostels, creches will help women workforce to work in industries,” Sonowal said.
The minister also said that Northeast, which plays a very important role, stands to benefit from the budget as it aims to empower region’s economic, industrial and agricultural sectors with the enablement of youth, women and tribal communities.
Stating that the budget sets the roadmap for India towards becoming Viksit Bharat, he said that with renewed vigour and priority, the budget aims to boost economic, industrial and agricultural sectors with the enablement of youth, women and tribal communities of the region.
Sonowal also said that under Prime Minister Modi, the budget provision for empowerment and enablement of tribal communities has increased nearly 200 per cent with an allocation of Rs.13,000 crores which will be used for welfare of the tribal communities.
He also added that for enablement of the traditional artisan, craftsman, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribe and women entrepreneurs, schemes like PM Vishwakarma, PM SVANidhji, National Livelihood Mission, and Stand Up India, the budget has stepped up allocation.
Another landmark scheme for serving social justice for the tribal communities, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram was announced in the budget, which will aim at improving the socio economic condition of tribal communities. The Union Minister also said that this will directly benefit 5 crore tribal population in 63,000 villages.
Highlighting the budgetary boost for agriculture in the northeast, Sonowal said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, we are working towards unlocking the tremendous potential of the Northeast as the hub of Natural Farming and Horticulture as well as enabling our young talent to become world class skilled workforce.”
He also said that the release of 109 high yielding and climate resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops offers an opportunity for Meghalaya, a pioneer in this field, to multiply income generation and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Sonowal said that with the proposed digital crop survey, the access to credit will improve via Kisan Credit Cards. An allocation of Rs. 598 crores for the eco-friendly sustainable agriculture project will control the adverse effects of climate change, soil erosion and insect, pest & disease infestation which greatly improve the prospects of agricultural produce from the region.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Animal Husbandry Alexander Laloo Hek, MLA and Chairman Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Sanbor Shullai, State BJP President Rikman G Momin and NEHU Vice Chancellor PS Shukla.
