Shatrughan Sinha has cast uncertainty on the presence of a universal health insurance provision, expressing concerns about the extent of healthcare coverage on a broader scale.
Shatrughan Sinha, the TMC MP, voiced skepticism regarding the budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, stating that it is forward-looking with a focus on 2047 rather than addressing immediate concerns. Sinha raised questions about the budget’s provisions for key sections like women, the poor, farmers, and youth, emphasizing the absence of measures for employment generation or doubling farmers’ income. While acknowledging satisfaction with the healthcare budget and the vaccination initiative for girls, Sinha inquired about the inclusion of universal health insurance, expressing reservations about the comprehensiveness of healthcare coverage.
While Union Ministers praised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, opposition leaders criticized it sharply, labeling it an ‘election budget’.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu characterized the interim budget as a financial entanglement designed to ensnare the public.
“The interim budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman fell short of the expectations of the country,” remarked Mr. Sukhu.
Expressing discontent with the central government, Mr. Sukhu asserted, “There was no acknowledgment of the need for expanding the rail network in the state. Furthermore, there was no indication of any plans for a rapid mass transit system in hilly states like Himachal, where initiating a metro rail system is not feasible.”
The Chief Minister underscored the Center’s neglect of the green energy sector in the interim budget.
“While the budget speech mentions green and solar energy, there lacks a clear roadmap outlining how these initiatives will be actualized,” he remarked.
The government unveiled the interim budget for 2024-25 in Parliament on Thursday, emphasizing economic policies geared towards fostering growth, enabling inclusive development, enhancing productivity, and generating opportunities for various segments of society. The government pledged special attention to the eastern region, encompassing Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal, aiming to transform them into growth engines as part of the broader objective to position India as a developed country by 2047.
Marking the conclusion of the second term of the PM Modi government, this budget, presented by Finance Minister Sitharaman, anticipates Lok Sabha polls in April-May this year. Sitharaman, delivering her sixth budget in Lok Sabha, expressed confidence in the BJP-led NDA securing power once again.