30-July-2024-Special-Article

UNION BUDGET 2024-25: KEY MEASURES FOR RURAL AND TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT

The Union Budget 2024-25, presented as the first general budget of the 18th Lok Sabha, introduced several significant initiatives aimed at improving rural infrastructure and tribal welfare.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Overview:

• Launched on December 25, 2000, PMGSY aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations across India.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Aimed at habitations with populations of 500 or above in plain regions and 250 or more in North-Eastern, Himalayan, Desert, and Tribal Areas, based on the 2001 census.
• An unconnected habitation is defined as one situated at least 500 meters (or 1.5 km in hilly regions) away from an all-weather road.

Core Network:

• Refers to the essential road network needed to ensure basic access to social and economic services via at least one all-weather road.

Funding Pattern:

• Union Government covers 90% of the project costs in North-Eastern and Himalayan States, and 60% in other states. Allocations are based on sanctioned project values.

Construction Standards:

• Roads are built following guidelines from the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), which has been a leading body for highway engineering since 1934.

Phases of PMGSY:

Phase I:

• Initiated in 2000 as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
• Focused on providing road connectivity to 1,35,436 habitations and upgrading 3.68 lakh km of existing rural roads for farm-to-market connectivity.

Phase II:

• Began in 2013, aimed at upgrading 50,000 km of existing rural roads to enhance their efficiency.
• Continued PMGSY Phase I while upgrading roads built for village connectivity.

Phase III:

• Approved in July 2019, prioritizes facilities like Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), higher secondary schools, and hospitals.
• Targets consolidating 1,25,000 km of road length with a scheme duration from 2019-20 to 2024-25.

Phase IV:

• Announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 to connect 25,000 villages with all-weather roads.
• Allocated Rs 19,000 crore for FY 2024-25.

Progress:

• Over 7 lakh km of roads completed out of a sanctioned 8.25 lakh km with an investment of Rs 2,70,000 crore.
• Connected 1,61,561 unconnected habitations with all-weather roads.

Indian Roads Congress (IRC)

Overview:

• Established in 1934, IRC aims to advance road infrastructure in India by bringing together professionals and stakeholders in road development.

Key Functions:

• Setting standards, conducting research, and organizing knowledge-sharing events.
• Influences national road policies and supports bodies like the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
• Advocates for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in road construction and maintenance.

Tribal Development Initiatives

Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA):

• Launched to uplift the living standards of tribal families in 63,000 villages.
• Focuses on “saturation coverage” in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts.
• Expected to benefit around 5 crore tribal individuals by enhancing their access to essential services and socio-economic opportunities.

Budget Allocations for Tribal Welfare:

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):

• Allocated Rs 6,399 crore, an increase of Rs 456 crore from FY 2023-24.
• Aimed at providing quality education to ST students with schools built to match Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Kendriya Vidyalayas, focusing on local art, culture, sports, and skill development.

Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students:

• Allocation increased from Rs 1,970.77 crore to Rs 2,432.68 crore.

Prime Minister’s Janjati Vikas Mission (PMJVM):

• Budget reduced by Rs 136.17 crore.
• Focuses on strengthening tribal entrepreneurship, enhancing livelihood opportunities, and promoting the efficient use of natural resources.

PM DAKSH Scheme:

• Allocation increased from Rs 92.47 crore to Rs 130 crore.
• Aims to provide skills training to SC and ST individuals.

National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes:

• Allocation increased to Rs 95 crore from Rs 50 crore for higher education abroad.

NAMASTE Scheme:

• Increased allocation to Rs 116.94 crore from Rs 97.41 crore.
• Launched in 2022 to ensure sanitation workers’ safety and dignity by mechanizing sewer cleaning and providing sustainable livelihoods.

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN):

• Continued with an allocation of Rs 25 crore.
• Aims to provide essential amenities like housing, clean water, sanitation, education, and improved road and telecom connectivity to PVTGs.

Other Key Schemes in the Union Budget 2024-25

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY):

• Objective: To offer affordable housing to the underprivileged with a target of 2.95 crore rural houses.
• Unit Cost Increase: From Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in plain areas, and from Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 2.20 lakh in challenging regions.
• Target: 3 crore additional homes in rural and urban areas with Rs 54,500 crore allocated for rural homes under PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G).

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) (Rural):

• Allocation: Rs 69,926.65 crore.
• Objective: To ensure safe and adequate drinking water supply to all rural households.
• Achievement: Provided tap water connections to 15 crore rural households, increasing coverage from 3 crore in 2019 to 15 crore in 2024.

Rural Land Reforms:

• Objective: To enhance agricultural productivity through better credit flow and land management.
• Reforms:

• Assignment of Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (Bhu-Aadhaar).
• Digitization of cadastral maps.
• Survey of map subdivisions based on current ownership.
• Establishment of a land registry.
• Linking land records to a farmers’ registry.

Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban):

• Overview: Announced in the Budget 2021-22, this mission aims to provide universal water supply coverage to urban households.
• Objectives:

• Securing tap and sewer connections.
• Rejuvenating water bodies.
• Creating a circular water economy.

Conclusion:

The Union Budget 2024-25 reflects a strong commitment to enhancing rural and tribal development in India. By focusing on critical infrastructure, such as road connectivity and affordable housing, alongside substantial investments in education and sanitation, the budget aims to address long-standing challenges in these sectors.

The introduction of new schemes and increased funding for existing ones demonstrates a strategic approach to improving the quality of life for underprivileged communities.

Overall, these initiatives are set to drive inclusive growth, reduce regional disparities, and ensure more equitable access to essential services and opportunities across the country.

Mains Question:

1. Discuss the key measures introduced in the Union Budget 2024-25 to enhance rural and tribal development in India, highlighting their potential impact on infrastructure and socio-economic conditions. (150 WORDS)