Union Budget 2024: What does it mean for Assam, Sikkim, and Manipur?

With Assam grappling with several waves of floods every year Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget 2024-25 announced that assistance will be provided to Assam for flood management and related projects.
The finance minister is presenting the first Union Budget of the Modi 3.0 government said, “Assam grapples with floods every year due to the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries originating outside India. We will assist Assam for flood management and related projects”.

For Sikkim, FM Sitharaman in her Budget 2024-25 speech, aimed at supporting Sikkim's recovery from the devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). “Recently, Sikkim witnessed devastating flash floods and landslides that wreaked havoc across the state. Our government will provide assistance to the state”, Sitharaman said.


She also announced that more than 100 branches of India Post Payment Bank will be set up in the Northeast region to expand the banking services.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday thanked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for proposing the special assistance to the state to meet the challenges posed by recurring floods. The Chief Minister in his statements on the social media said: “We are extremely grateful for the special assistance Assam will receive under this Budget to help meet the challenges posed by floods.”

The Chief Minister said that enhanced allocation under PM Awas Yojana and schemes such PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan which seeks to achieve saturation of schemes in all tribal majority villages, will also have a net positive impact in Assam.

Union Budget 2024 infrastructure push via Rs 1.5 lakh crore to states, focus on improving agricultural productivity, green energy initiatives and generous allocation for rural development would also have a multiplier effect on Assam’s growth, Sarma pointed out.

Noting that the Union Budget 2024 stands out for its unprecedented push towards employment generation and powering small businesses, the Assam CM said that schemes such as PM’s Package for employment and skilling, one crore paid internship opportunities and employment-linked incentives will be game changers.

Complimenting the Union Finance Minister and her team for presenting a ‘budget that lays down a solid road map to maintain India’s growth momentum’ the Chief Minister said that the Budget seeks to propel the economy of the country to the world’s third largest, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The excellent reforms announced for land registration will complement our ongoing efforts like Mission Basundhara 3.0”, the Chief Minister stated.

Sarma said that the Union Budget 2024 has several progressive measures such as the review of the IT Act, withdrawal of Angel Tax, reducing the fiscal deficit, sustaining capex and several other measures will ensure India remains the fastest growing economy for years to come.

Congress in Manipur criticised union budget for not mentioning of any packages for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Manipur. Lok Sabha MP, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam reacted on X, pointing out the absence of Manipur in Nirmala Sitharaman’s presentation of the Union Budget. “Absence thy name is Manipur, that's the budget speak! Nothing on flood and rehabilitation package for IDPs in the state!” his post on X read.

At least 220 people have been killed, 1,500 injured and 60,000 displaced since violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities on May 3 last year. The riots began after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.