Budget 2024 & Four Castes : Budget 2024 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented her 6th budget. Although an interim one, but her speech war targeting the ‘four castes of India i.e Poor, Women, Youth and Farmer’ as named by PM Modi in 30 Nov, 2023. Let’s see how the government has been tried to address the four castes (Voter Group).
What PM said on Four Castes ?
On 30 Nov, 2023, PM Modi was interacting with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. He has mentioned that for him there are four biggest caste in the country . These are poor,youth, women and farmers .
“In char jatiyon ka utthan hi Bharat ko viksit banayega. Agar chaar ka ho jayega to iska matlab sabka ho jayega. (Only the upliftment of these four castes will make India developed. And if it happens to these four, it means it will happen to everyone),” PM further added .
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s focus on ‘Four Castes’ in budget speech
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman as also been addressing the these ‘Four Castes’ in her 57 minute speech. FM Said in her budget speech, “As our Prime Minister firmly believes, we need to focus on four major castes. They are, ‘Garib’ (Poor), ‘Mahilayen’ (Women), ‘Yuva’ (Youth) and ‘Annadata’ (Farmer). Their needs, their aspirations, and their welfare are our highest priority. The country progresses, when they progress.
The Poor
- Govt has highlighted the welfare measure govt has taken to eradicate poverty in Budget speech. FM listed out several relief measures took up by government in past.
- The Government has assisted 25 crore people to get freedom from multi-dimensional poverty.
- PM-SVANidhi has provided credit assistance to 78 lakh street vendors. From that total, 2.3 lakh have received credit for the third time.
- PM-Vishwakarma Yojana provides end-to end support to artisans and craftspeople engaged in 18 trades.
- Ayushman Bharat Allocation has been increase to 7500 cr from 7200 cr.
Announcement for Farmers in Current Budget (2024-25)
- Our Government will launch a scheme to help deserving section of the middle class “living in rented houses, or slums, or chawls and unauthorized colonies” to buy or build their own houses.
- PMAY-Gramin, housing for all, we are close to achieving target of 3 crore houses. 2 crore more houses in next 5 years.
The Women
- 30 crore Mudra Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs.
- Female enrolment in higher education has gone up by 28 % in 10 years.
- In STEM courses, girls and women constitute forty-three per cent of enrolment – one of the highest in the world.
- Making ‘Triple Talaq’ illegal, reservation of one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies.
- Giving over 70 % houses under PM Awas Yojana in rural areas to women as sole or joint owners have enhanced their dignity.
Announcement for Women in Current Budget (2024-25)
- 83 lakh SHGs with 9 crore women are transforming rural socio-economic landscape.
- There are more than 1 crore women are lakhpati didi. Now the target enhanced to 3 crore.
- Encourage Cervical Cancer Vaccination for girls (9-14 years)
- Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 to be expedited for improved nutrition delivery, early childhood care and development.
- U-WIN platform for immunisation efforts of Mission Indradhanush to be rolled out
- Health cover under Ayushman Bharat scheme to be extended to all ASHA, Anganwadi workers and helpers
The Farmers
- Under PM-KISAN SAMMAN Yojana, direct financial assistance is provided to 11.8 crore farmers, including marginal and small farmers. Crop insurance is given to 4 crore farmers under PM Fasal Bima Yojana. These, besides several other programmes, are assisting ‘Annadata’ in producing food for the country and the world.”
- 1361 mandis, and is providing services to 1.8 crore farmers with trading volume of ` 3 lakh crore.
- Direct financial assistance to 11.8 crore farmers under PM-KISAN
- Crop Insurance to 4 crore farmer sunder PM Fasal Bima Yojana
Announcement for farmers in Current Budget (2024-25)
- Government will promote private and public investment in post-harvest activities Application of Nano-DAP to be expanded in all agro-climatic zones.
- Atmanirbhar Oilseeds Abhiyaan-Strategy to be formulated to achieve atmanirbharta for oilseeds
- Comprehensive programme for dairy development to be formulated
- Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Matsaya Sampada Yojana to be stepped up to enhance aquaculture productivity, double Exports and generate more employment opportunities.
- 5 Integrated Aquaparks to be set up
The Youth :
- “Our prosperity depends on adequately equipping and empowering the youth”. The National Education Policy 2020 is ushering in transformational reforms.
- PM Shri ScHools for Rising India (PM SHRI) are delivering quality teaching, and nurturing holistic and well-rounded individuals.
- The Skill India Mission has trained 1.4 crore youth, upskilled and reskilled 54 lakh youth, and established 3000 new ITIs.
- A large number of new institutions of higher learning, namely 7 IITs, 16 IIITs, 7 IIMs, 15 AIIMS and 390 universities have been set up.
- PM Mudra Yojana has sanctioned 43 crore loans aggregating to ` 22.5 lakh crore for entrepreneurial aspirations of our youth. Besides that, Fund of Funds, Start Up India, and Start Up Credit Guarantee schemes are assisting our youth.
- They are also becoming ‘rozgardata’.
- The country is proud of our youth scaling new heights in sports. The highest ever medal tally in Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2023 reflects a high confidence level.
- Chess prodigy and our Number-One ranked player Praggnanandhaa put up a stiff fight against the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsson in 2023.
- Today, India has over 80 chess grandmasters compared to little over 20 in 2010.
Announcement for Youth in Current Budget (2024-25)
- “Tech savvy youth will witness a golden era. Corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore for long-term financing or refinancing with low or nil interest rates to encourage pvt sector to scale up research and innovation in sunrise domains: “
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