The Union Budget-2021-22, which was presented in Parliament has focused on providing a major boost to health care sector and infrastructure building. In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned that this year’s budget focuses on six pillars- health and well-being, physical and financial capital and infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and Research and Development and minimum government and maximum governance.
Ms Sitharaman also announced a sharp increase in capital expenditure with Budget Estimates of 5.54 lakh crore rupees which is 34.5 per cent more than the Budget Estimates of last financial year of 4.12 lakh crore rupees. The Minister stated that despite the resource crunch, it has been Government’s effort to spend more on capital and it is expected that the total capital expenditure during 2020-21 will be at around 4.39 lakh crore rupees.
Talking to AIR News, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar said that the government is continuously giving thrust on creation of National Highways and Rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. He said, along with the construction of roads, one lakh eight thousand crore rupees has been provided for capital investment.
In the Union Budget, the government has announced a substantial increase in investment in healthcare sector. The budget outlay for health and well-being has been increased by 137 per cent to two lakh 23 thousand 846 crore rupees as against the Budget Estimate of 94 thousand 452 crore rupees last year.
The Finance Minister also announced a new Centrally sponsored scheme, PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, which will be launched with an outlay of nearly 64 thousand 180 crore rupees over six years. This will develop capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary care Health Systems and this will be in addition to the National Health Mission.
The government has also allocated 35 thousand crore rupees of COVID-19 vaccines. Besides, the Urban Swachh Bharat Mission will be implemented with a total financial allocation of one lakh 41 thousand 678 crore rupees over a period of five years from 2021-2026. The Budget also proposed to provided an enhanced outlay of one lakh 18 thousand and 101 crore rupees for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
To provide adequate credit to country’s farmers, Government has enhanced the agricultural credit target to 16.5 lakh crore rupees. The Finance Minister also stated that more than two lakh crore rupees will be provided to states and Autonomous Bodies for their Capital Expenditure.
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