The Hindu : Vasundhara hails interim Budget

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

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Other States - Rajasthan

Vasundhara hails interim Budget

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR, FEB. 3. The Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, has welcomed the interim Budget presented by the Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, in the Lok Sabha today for its "special consideration'' to the States having the problem of difficult terrains such as desert. She termed the budget as people-friendly and growth-oriented.

In a statement issued here, she expressed happiness over the fact that the Centre had taken into account the genuine problems of the desert State of Rajasthan and provided many incentives. She hoped that the Budget would further accelerate the rate of growth. Ms. Raje said the Budget had addressed all vital segments of economy, including agriculture, small scale and medium industries, infrastructure development, health, tourism, etc. Similarly, efforts had been made to include innovative programmes and schemes for women and the weaker sections of society, she observed.

"During the past two months, I had requested the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Finance Minister for help in certain areas to meet the development aspirations of the people of Rajasthan,'' she said while pointing out that it was a matter of great satisfaction that the majority of these issues had been addressed in the interim Budget.

The Budget has given one of the six new AIIMS- like super-speciality hospitals to Rajasthan, which will be established in Jodhpur. Similarly, NABARD has been asked to take up a special promotional campaign for establishment of self-help groups (SHGs). In the first phase, three States -- including Rajasthan -- have been selected for the campaign.

The Chief Minister said the announcement for setting up a task force for integrated development of desert areas was significant in view of its mandate to address the problem of sustainable livelihood in deserts. The task force will review all relevant current programmes, identify gaps, defining the thrust areas and make appropriate recommendations. It will also examine the establishment of rural technological centre in one of the desert districts.

She pointed out that the construction of Indira Gandhi Canal would be accelerated by the fresh Central initiative for additional and innovative funding for the project. The Centre will also provide financial assistance to Rajasthan to ensure an early flow of Narmada waters in the desert districts.

The Chief Minister also welcomed the Budgetary proposals for selection of Jaipur as of one of the four international convention centres in the country and the conversion of the Sanganer airport here into an international airport.

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Vasundhara hails interim Budget