Days before the interim budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing policies aimed at the upliftment of four critical groups: youth, women, farmers, and the economically disadvantaged, as identified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Highlighting the strides made since 2014, Sitharaman stressed the urgency with which the government has addressed the essential needs of housing, water, roads, and electricity that were overlooked for the past 50-60 years.
Speaking at Hindu College, University of Delhi, on its 125th anniversary, the Finance Minister discussed the government’s progress in achieving saturation in various social sector schemes to ensure fundamental necessities are universally accessible. She asserted that a foundation for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) has been laid by fulfilling basic needs for all. Addressing students during an interactive session on ‘Empowering the Youth: Building the Foundations of a Viksit Bharat,’ Sitharaman encouraged the youth to lead India towards economic independence.
Sitharaman also highlighted India’s self-sufficiency in the face of global challenges, citing the Red Sea crisis. She expressed that India, being largely self-sufficient in agriculture, attracts interest from other countries seeking long-term understandings for food exports. The Finance Minister emphasized the immense potential in the agricultural sector, with the government investing in research and development activities.
Furthermore, Sitharaman emphasized the government’s financial prudence through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), saving Rs 2.5 lakh crore by eliminating dummy and undesired beneficiaries. She encouraged the youth to vote responsibly and further acknowledged the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22 as a ‘civilizational marker’.
