Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, while presenting the interim Budget for the financial year 2023-24, said that the Indian economy has undergone a positive transformation in the last 10 years, instilling hope for the future. “In 2014, the nation confronted significant challenges, which were successfully addressed by the Narendra Modi-led government through the philosophy of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’,” the finance minister said.
She added that the government is committed to achieving a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. Emphasizing a commitment to inclusive development, she reiterated, “Our focus is on ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas.” FM Sitharaman said that in the last 10 years, the government’s dedication to Sabka Saath has liberated 25 crore people from multidimensional poverty.
While reiterating that there is macroeconomic stability, Sitharaman said that the economy is doing well, people are living better and earning better. She also said that the real income of people has increased by 50 per cent and inflation is moderate. She further added that there is effective and timely delivery of programs and large projects.
Further, the finance minister said that the government focuses on outcomes rather than outlays and that the fruits of the development have started reaching people at scale, and the country got a sense of new purpose and hope. The finance minister added that the upcoming five years are anticipated to witness ‘unprecedented development’, aiming to achieve the vision of transforming into a developed country by 2047. “Government will adopt economic policies that foster and sustain growth,” she said. In 2014, the country was facing enormous challenges, but the government overcame those challenges and undertook structural reforms, pro-people reforms were undertaken, conditions for jobs and entrepreneurship were set in, fruits of development started reaching people at scale, and the country got a sense of new purpose and hope.
During her speech, Sitharaman further said, “We need to focus on four major casts – Garib, Mahilayein, Yuva and Annadata. Their aspirations and their welfare is of highest priority to the government. The country progresses when they prosper.. Their empowerment and well being will drive country forward.”