GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal termed the Union budget 2019-20 as pro-people, pro-poor which will galvanize rural empowerment and women empowerment. He also hailed the budget as a concrete step for overall development and bridging the urban and rural divide.
In a statement made here on Friday, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the budget 2019-20 with its exclusive ‘Gaon-Garib’ focus will be a great fillip to expedite the progress of the poor and middle class of the country. Terming it a green budget, Sonowal said that under the budget electric vehicles will be cheaper to protect the environment. Moreover, provisions have been made to make raw materials for artificial kidney, wool fiber and defence equipment cheaper in this budget. To ensure Har Ghar Jal to all rural households by 2024 under Jal Jeevan Mission, focus has been paid on integrated demand and supply side management at local level, creation of local infrastructure for rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and household waste water management. Assam and other Northeastern states will also be benefitted from the programme.
Moreover, according to a press release, enhanced interest deduction for affordable housing loan and changing common men’s life through Mundra, Ujjwala, Saubhagya etc will increase common men’s access to the benefits of governance. Under Pradhan Mantri Karam Yogi Maandhan pension benefits, retail traders and small shopkeepers will be empowered and it will help the small and medium scale traders of Assam as well.
Under this budget railways will receive major facelift and railways to be encouraged to invest more in suburban railways which will help the railway projects in Assam to take off. Under infrastructure development programme Bharatmala phase 2 to be launched and state road networks will be developed to facilitate seamless road communication in the state. For the empowerment of women,70 per cent women beneficiaries under MUDRA scheme have been included along with giving free connections to eight crore LPG connections under Ujjawala Yojana for women. To expand women SHG interest subvention programme to all districts Rs1 lakh loan under MUDRA scheme will be given to one woman in every SHG which will definitely empower women in our state. 1.95 crore houses will be provided to eligible beneficiaries.