One of the three ‘Kartavyas’ outlined by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget focuses on inclusive development, promising access to resources, facilities and services to all regions, communities and people.
The vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ this year has a special focus on small enterprises, tier-II and tier-III cities, the North-Eastern region, youth and women.
A sum of Rs 6,812 crore has been earmarked for development in the North-East and Purvodaya states, out of which the share for the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East Region is estimated at Rs 2,306 crore.
An announcement was also made for the development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with five tourism destinations and 4,000 e-buses in the Purvodaya states, which include Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
For the North-East, a scheme for the development of Buddhist circuits has been proposed, covering preservation of temples and monasteries and related amenities. The Budget also proposed the establishment of a new dedicated freight corridor connecting Dankuni to Surat and operationalising 20 new national waterways over the next five years.
Empowering Rural Women
For rural women, the Budget holds opportunities for entrepreneurship and financial independence. This year’s estimated allocation for Mission Shakti has been pegged at Rs 3,605 crore, an increase from last year’s Rs 3,150 crore.
With the aim of helping women become owners of enterprises, the finance minister proposed setting up of SHE (self-help entrepreneur) Marts or community-owned retail outlets. Similar efforts will be made in empowering women-led groups and startups in fish farming.
In a move to strengthen women’s safety, one girls’ hostel will be established in every district for girls enrolled in higher education STEM institutions, among other measures.
The Budget has also proposed increasing the duty deferral period for tier-II and III cities from 15 days to 30 days. More pertinently, to amplify the potential of cities, City Economic Regions (CER) will be mapped as per specific growth drivers. An allocation of ₹5,000 crore per CER over a period of five years has been proposed for implementing these plans.
As Anish Shah, group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, opined, appreciating the focus on inclusivity, “The emphasis on sabka saath, sabka vikaas is commendable. The actions to ensure every community has access to resources and opportunities will enable robust and sustainable economic growth.”
The minister also announced a complete removal of the Rs 10 lakh value cap per consignment for courier exports for small businesses, which is expected to significantly improve access to global markets for artisans and startups. The second tranche of the Startup India Fund of Funds is expected to get an allocation of Rs 900 crore.
Assisting Persons with Disabilities
The Budget also focused on empowering persons with disabilities, with Sitharaman proposing a Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana and a Divyang Sahara Yojana, with an estimated allocation of Rs 200 crore and Rs 100 crore, respectively. Under the former, opportunities will be created in the IT, AVGC, hospitality and food and beverage sectors.
The latter will ensure timely access to high-quality assistive devices for all eligible people as a fundamental need. The finance minister promised support to the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, efforts to strengthen Divyasha Kendras and set up assistive technology marts as modern retail-style centres.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, said, “A bold Budget that combines growth with inclusion. The strong emphasis on skilling, alongside sustained investments in science, innovation, and research are timely.”