Union Budget 2024 Schemes: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday presented the interim Union Budget 2024-25 and announced that the Ayushman Bharat scheme will be extended to all ASHA and Anganwadi workers. Sitharaman presented her sixth straight Budget ahead of the Lok Sabha election that is scheduled in April-May this year.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the largest publicly funded health insurance scheme in the world. It provides a coverage of Rs five lakh for each family every year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.
A total of 55 crore people from 12 crore families were covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme till December 27, 2023.
The finance minister also announced that the BJP-led NDA government will launch a housing scheme for deserving middle class to buy or build their own houses.
She also said that a total of 25 crore people got freedom from multi-dimensional poverty over the last 10 years.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin
The Union Finance Minister also announced that two crore more houses will be built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin.
“Despite COVID, this continued, and we’re close to achieving the target of 3 crore houses. 2 crore more houses will be taken up in the next 5 years to meet the need arising from increase in number of families,” the FM said.
On the recent roof-top solarisation scheme that was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the FM said, “Through roof-top solarisation, 1 crore households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units of free electricity every month. This scheme follows the resolve of the Prime Minister on the historic day of the consecration of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.”
Sitharaman also said that as many as 11.8 crore farmers were provided financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana, which is dubbed as the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.
The scheme, which was effective from 2018, provides a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal four-monthly instalments, and the money is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the individuals.
Sitharaman on Nari Shakti
Speaking about ‘Nari Shakti’, the union finance minister said that there has been ‘momentum for Nari Shakti’, and empowerment of women through entrepreneurship in the last 10 years.
“30 crore Mudra Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs…Making triple talaq illegal, reservation of one -thirds seats for the women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies and giving over 70 percent houses under PM Awas Yojana in rural areas to women as sole or joint owner has enhanced their dignity,” the union finance minister said.
To empower women in rural areas, Sitharaman announced the expansion of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme. The target, which was initially set for two crore women, has been enhanced to three crore women.
On maternal and child heathcare, Sitharaman said that the Union government will encourage vaccination for girls aged 9-14 years for cervical cancer.
“Various schemes for maternal and child healthcare will be brought in synergy. Anganwadis will be upgraded,” she said.
On the Skill India Mission, Sitharaman said that about 1.4 crore youth were trained and skilled under the mission, which focuses in skilling, re-skilling and upskilling through short-term and long-term training programmes.
Ahead of the presentation, the Union Cabinet, which is headed by Narendra Modi, approved the interim Budget.