Budget 2007-08 may delight socially underprivileged
The socially underprivileged can expect comfort from union budget 2007-08.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Rising prices may have derailed their family's budget, but the socially underprivileged can expect comfort from union budget 2007-08, whose accent is likely on education, jobs and welfare of the politically crucial classes.
The fourth budget of the UPA government is likely to announce landmark development programmes that would achieve the ruling coalition's political goals, including heavy investments for scheduled castes (SC) and other backward classes.
Indications are that the budget will meet expenditures committed under the oversight committee's recommendations for extension of seats in higher and technical education to ensure reservation to OBCs by allocating Rs 4,363 crores, sources said.
It could also have new programmes aimed at attracting the SC vote bank, including a special programme called the model village scheme in which all districts having more than 50 per cent SC population will be put on fast track development with a dedicated funding programme, they said.
A token fund of Rs five crore may be announced in the budget, but more funds would be organised as the identified districts prepare implementable programmes, the sources said.
The budget could also see the launch of unorganised workers welfare programmes, for which Rs 10 crore would be earmarked with more commitments as it is formally launched, they said.
Another pro-poor programme - the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) - would be expanded further with induction of 125 more districts at an expected allocation of over Rs 18,000 crores, the sources said.
The rural roads programme will also have an increased thrust with allocation likely to go up by 74 per cent to over Rs 6,500 crore in the coming fiscal from the current Rs 3,725 crores.
Allocation to social sector programmes especially those envisaged in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) have been consciously kept high as the government stands to gain politically and economically, a source said.
Indications would be clear that the budget will work toward having a visible impact on the rural and deprived sections of the vote bank, before the process for the next general elections is set in motion.
With low income and absorptive capacities, this section of the society can accelerate growth trends as well as place the UPA in an advantageous position, they reasoned.
Other social sectors including agriculture, health and education is also likely to witness heavy increase in budgetary allocations. Elementary education alone would witness an allocation of about Rs 20,000 crore whereas health sector would register an increase in outlay by over 32 per cent, sources said.
The agriculture sector will witness unfolding of the strategy for revival with increased emphasis on horticulture mission.
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