New Delhi   

Delhi Congress leaders hail Union Budget

NEW DELHI: The Union Budget 2009-10 was hailed by Congress leaders in Delhi on Monday as a development-oriented and pro-poor budget which would take the country forward.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the Budget reflected the commitment of the Union Government to fulfil promises made to the common man and marked the beginning of their implementation. Ms. Dikshit said the Budget was aimed at inclusive growth and noted that adequate provision had been made for housing and road sectors.

Expressing her pleasure at the increase in Central Plan Assistance, Ms. Dikshit said a substantial increase had been made in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and other sectors directly related to public welfare. She also expressed confidence that the Union Government would provide additional money for Delhi whenever required.

Delhi Finance Minister A. K. Walia expressed gratitude to the Union Finance Minister for raising the Central Plan Assistance for Delhi by Rs.1,654.12 crore or 197 per cent in the Budget from Rs.841.56 crore (actual) in 2008-09 to Rs.2495.68 crore in 2009-10. He said there had been an increase of Rs.76.99 crore over the provision of Rs.2418.69 crore announced in the interim budget for 2009-10.

Dr. Walia also lauded the increase in the special grant for JNNURM by Rs.975.91 crore. The actual figure for 2008-09 was Rs.153.91 crore, which has been increased to Rs.1129.82 crore. The increase comes to 634 per cent over the last year, he said.

The Minister said there had been an increase of Rs.676.27 crore (403 per cent) under urban infrastructure and governance and Rs.299.64 crore (1852 per cent) under basic services to the urban poor. The provision for Old Age Pension has been increased from Rs.53.27 crore to Rs.83.71 crore -- an increase of Rs.30.44 crore or 57 per cent.

He also mentioned that the special grant for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi next year had been increased from Rs.400 crore (actual) for 2008-09 to Rs.1,000 crore in 2009-10, which amounts to an increase of Rs.600 crore or 150 per cent. Dr. Walia said the Delhi Government would call for another Rs.1,000 crore under this head. He expressed confidence that the Centre would favourably consider this reasonable request of the Delhi Government keeping in view the importance of the Commonwealth Games.

New Delhi MP and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken, meanwhile, has welcomed the huge increase in the allocation for JNNURM, which he said would go a long way in improving civic infrastructure and providing houses to urban poor not only in Delhi but the entire country.

Similarly, Mr. Maken said, the provision for construction of one lakh houses for para-military personnel would not only help them with much-needed accommodation but also boost their morale.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president J. P. Agarwal said the Budget was “very good” as it had not only made the provision for providing relief to the farmers as India was basically an agriculture-oriented nation but also provided incentives to the labour class, students, unemployed, women, handicapped and many other categories.

The increase in the exemption limit for income tax to Rs.1.60 lakh was also a big relief for the people, he said.

Mr. Agarwal said it was also a great gesture by the Finance Minister that the cost of nine life-saving drugs had been reduced and LCD TV sets, energy-saving CFL bulbs, pressure cookers and mobile software had been made cheaper. He said this popular budget would quicken the country’s development and bring happiness to people.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CBI files report on Subba’s citizenship
NHRC wants CBI probe
Sops for urban middle class in Pranab’s budget
65-year-old CA found dead
Delhi Congress leaders hail Union Budget
Medical journal launched
Medical centre in Kenya to be set up with Indian assistance
Afghan Army chief in Capital
Tributes to Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Municipal school building inaugurated
Power demand rises in the Capital
1,770 crore earmarked for Delhi Metro
Nirankari congregation
National flavour

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu