Budget 2014: Will launch broadband connectivity at village level, says Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: Announcing the government's intent to launch the National Rural Broadband Vision, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his maiden budget speech said, "We want to launch broadband connectivity at village level."

"The mission will be launched with Rs 500 crore allotted to it," Jaitley said. "We will allocate Rs 100 crore for improving governance across villages," Jaitley said. "We aim to improve safe drinking water, sewage, digital infrastructure in cities," he added.

Moving ahead on the NDA government's stated mission of electricity for all, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his maiden budget speech said, "We are committed to provide 24 by 7 power to all households."

Jaitley also said that government aims at total sanitation of all households by 2019. Giving direction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of building multiple smart cities in India, Jaitley said the government will aim to spend Rs 7060 crore for 100 smart cities.

Aiming to create AIIMS in every state, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his maiden budget speech said, "We will allocate Rs 500 crore for 4 new AIIMS units."

"We will set up 4 AIIMS in AP, WB, Vidharbha, Purvanchal," Jaitley said. "We will set up new institutions within Delhi-AIIMS; Chennai-AIIMS," he added.

Jaitley also proposed setting up 5 more IITs and IIMs.

Looking to harness the demographic dividend, Jaitley said that government will work on skill development of youth. "The skill development programme for the youth will encompass multiple areas such as carpentry etc," Jaitley said.