Bhubaneswar, 17th February, 2023. (Pratyusha Bureau): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reiterated that the fund allocation for MGNREGA has not been cut down. Replying to query in a post-budget interaction with the media in Bhubaneswar, Odisha today she said since MGNREGA is a demand driven scheme, the government will keep making provisions in tune with the demand. She said that the focus of the government is not just to allocate funds but also to ensure the full utilisation of the funds allocated for the scheme. Taking a question on procurement of rice and other food grains she said that both the quantum of food grains procured from the farmers has gone up along with the amount of MSP paid in the last eight years. She said that it has also been ensured that the entire amount of MSP is put into the accounts of the farmers by eliminating any scope of pilferage and involvement of middlemen. On the inclusion of petrol and diesel in the framework of GST the Finance Minister replied that it is in the domain of the GST council to decide on the rates. Stating that income tax rates have indeed been slashed down in the new regime, she said that the benefits under sections like 80 C and 80 D will continue to be available under the old regime. On the issue of granting special category state status to Odisha, the Finance Minister clarified that the Finance Commission has disfavoured the grant of any more special category status to any state.Appreciating the Ujjawala Yojana as a good scheme, the Finance Minister said it has been well received by the people, particularly the poor. Underling the Prime Minister’s stress on not transferring the burden of global hike in prices of items like gas and fertilisers to the poor, she said that the govt is giving two hundred rupees subsidy per cylinder so that the poor can continue to refill their gas cylinders. She said people do understand the impact of price hike of imported items and calibrate their consumption accordingly. Highlighting PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM-VIKAS) Yojana announced in the Budget, Smt. Sitharaman said that it will greatly benefit the artisans of Odisha who are doing pattachitra and stone work etc. Earlier the Minister, participating in a post-budget interaction with stakeholders in Bhubaneswar, said in order to keep up the growth momentum of the economy, the budget has not only allocated a whooping 10 lakh crore rupees for Capital expenditure but has also put emphasis allocat ore funds for the states to build their capital assets. Elaborating on another significant aspect of the budget, she said that emphasis has been given on including various segments of under -privileged population like the backward and primitive people in the development journey. Stating that ‘Saturation’ is the keyword in the process of inclusion, she said that saturation needs to be achieved in terms of having fundamental benefits of development reach the unreached. Based on this the government has thought of identifying 500 aspirational blocks in the country apart from the existing 114 aspirational districts. The Finance minister also briefed on other important aspects like provisions for the MSME, skilling and upskilling of youths and workers to make them future ready and the emphasis on green energy.
