Odisha CM Hails Union Budget As Pro-Poor & Growth-Oriented

Bhubaneswar: Hailing the union budget for 2024-25 as pro-poor and growth-oriented, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for giving special importance to the development of Odisha’s tourism sector.

“On behalf of the people of Odisha, I thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for giving special importance to the development of Odisha tourism sector in the current budget and providing necessary financial support,” Majhi said in a statement

The Chief Minister said that the tourism sector including wildlife, marine resources and temple development will contribute significantly to Odisha’s economic development, making Odisha a centre of tourist attraction.

The budget, he said, has accorded considerable importance to the poor, women, youth and farmers of the country.

The focus is on raising farm productivity, skill development, and employment generation, the CM said, adding that all sections of people will be immensely benefitted by the budgetary provisions.

Welcoming the budget, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo said the state’s demands, presented in the pre-budget meeting, have been fulfilled.

“I must thank Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for including Odisha’s demands put forth during the pre-budget meeting. Odisha will see ample job opportunities, reducing the need for youths to migrate for work, as the Finance Minister has focused on developing the tourism sector, including the coastline, temples, heritage sites, and forests. She has also prioritized the farmers and the agricultural sector,” he said.

Singh Deo also acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that he has fulfilled all his election promises. “On behalf of the government and the people of Odisha, I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The promises made by the Prime Minister during the election period are reflected in the Union Budget,” he added.

The Deputy CM said this is the largest budget Odisha has received from the Centre, surpassing those during the UPA government. He pointed out that the people of Odisha will benefit from the development in tourism, agriculture, and seafood export sectors, noting that Odisha has received more than its due share in this budget.

In her reaction, Chairperson of SAI International Education Group Silpi Sahoo said the Union Budget shows a strong commitment to youth empowerment, acknowledging that it is essential to the success of our country, said

She pointed out that a 30% increase in funding to Rs 1.48 lakh crores has been allocated for education, employment, and skill development which is a necessary and promising initiative.

Students from low-income backgrounds benefitting from the provision of financial support for loans up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education is a welcome move by the Government. Internship chances at 500 leading companies for 1 crore students during a 5-year period coupled with an internship allowance of Rs 5,000 per month and a one-time aid of Rs 6,000 will offer invaluable exposure and professional experience to the youth of India, Sahoo maintained.

Furthermore, the skilling project, which is a partnership between business and state governments, intends to improve 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes to train 20 lakh kids over the course of five years is a notable development in the Union Budget, she added.

“I am sure that many students will benefit from the redesigned Model Skill Loan Scheme, which would provide loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh backed by a government-sponsored fund. This will help the youth to be more professionally trained,” she said.

Sahoo further appreciated the Budget, saying that the Eastern region’s ‘Purbodaya’ plan and the emphasis on digitization and technology adoption prioritizing infrastructure, economic prospects, and human resource development will be a key to turn the region into a major player in the global economy.

“If these policies are implemented effectively, Bharat is on the path to attaining global leadership”, she added.