Uttarakhand Unveils Rs 89,000 Crore Budget

• 28 Feb 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand government unveiled its budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the Assembly.

• Uttarakhand’s economic growth rate stood at 7.63% in 2022-23, surpassing the national average.

Key Points

• Allocating Rs 89,000 crore for a range of initiatives with significant emphasis on addressing poverty, disaster management, infrastructure development, and improving air connectivity.
• The budget emphasised a dedication to the “four pillars” of a developed India– welfare of the poor, youth empowerment, agricultural initiatives, and women’s empowerment.
• Provisions made for each pillar are:
  • Rs 5,658 crore has been earmarked for the welfare of the poor, encompassing housing initiatives, food grain distribution, and free gas refill schemes.
  • The budget allocates Rs 1,679 crore towards youth welfare, technical and higher education, and organising national games.
    • Provisions have also been made for schemes promoting the merit of minority girls and fostering employment opportunities.
  • Rs 2,415 crore has been allocated for various farmer-centric schemes, including cooperative initiatives, apple cultivation, farmer pensions, and fisheries development.
  • The budget sets aside approximately Rs 14,538 crore for gender-specific initiatives.
    • These encompass schemes aimed at maternal and child welfare, and enhancing women’s economic participation.