Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while replying to budget discussions in Parliament, detailed the government’s holistic infrastructure strategy that extends beyond highways to vital waterways. This focus targets landlocked states, aiming to bridge the logistics cost gap with coastal regions and unlock their economic potential.
“By developing waterways, we’re empowering non-port states to transport goods affordably,” Sitharaman noted. Currently, India’s logistics sector is plagued by inefficiencies, but this multi-modal approach could trim costs by 20-30%, enhancing competitiveness for exports and domestic trade.
The agenda prioritizes sectors with high employment elasticity, notably MSMEs. New budget measures offer aid to frontrunner MSMEs, catalyzing growth through innovation grants and market access. In agriculture, enhanced animal husbandry infrastructure—complete with district vets, clinics, and labs—will minimize losses and maximize productivity.
States’ tax devolution jumps to Rs 25.44 lakh crore, a hearty Rs 2.7 lakh crore more than before, fueling local development. Employment generation takes center stage with five regional medical hubs set to invigorate medical tourism and spawn 1 lakh jobs. Five sprawling textile-to-leather parks will further diversify opportunities in value-added manufacturing.
Elderly welfare sees a massive push: a nationwide care ecosystem with 1.5 lakh trained givers this year. Sitharaman’s address weaves together threads of connectivity, care, and creation, heralding a new era of balanced prosperity for all Indians.