New Delhi: The Delhi government unveiled its 10th budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, outlining a roadmap for growth and development. Finance Minister Atishi presented the budget in the Delhi Assembly, highlighting key initiatives aimed at improving healthcare, empowering women, and promoting sustainable practices. Let’s delve deeper into the budget’s key features and their potential impact.
Healthcare Takes Center Stage:
Recognizing the importance of public health, the budget allocates a significant ₹8,685 crore to the healthcare sector. This includes:
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- Increased funding for existing hospitals: Hospitals like Lok Nayak, Guru Teg Bahadur, and GB Pant will receive increased budgetary allocations for improved facilities and services.
- Focus on Mohalla Clinics: The budget bolsters the popular Mohalla Clinic initiative with a ₹2,000 crore provision to strengthen their reach and effectiveness in providing primary healthcare services to citizens.
- Enhanced access to medicine: A dedicated ₹600 crore allocation ensures the availability of essential medicines at affordable prices across the city.
These measures aim to address long-standing concerns about healthcare accessibility and affordability in Delhi, potentially leading to improved healthcare outcomes for residents.
Empowering Women: A New Chapter:
The budget introduces the “Chief Minister Mahila Samman Yojana,” a game-changer for women’s empowerment in Delhi. This ambitious scheme promises to provide a monthly stipend of ₹1,000 to every woman above 18 years of age. This initiative seeks to:
- Enhance financial independence: The direct cash transfer empowers women with greater control over their finances, allowing them to invest in their well-being and education.
- Promote gender equality: By addressing economic disparities, the scheme can pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive society.
- Boost local economies: Increased purchasing power among women can stimulate local businesses and contribute to the city’s economic growth.
The “Chief Minister Mahila Samman Yojana” holds considerable potential to empower women, fostering an environment conducive to their overall development and participation in society.
Embracing a Greener Future:
The Delhi government prioritizes environmental sustainability in this budget. Key initiatives include:
- Solar Power Push: The vision of “Solar Panels on Every Rooftop” aims to equip every household in Delhi with solar panels by 2024-25. This ambitious target seeks to:
- Reduce dependence on fossil fuels: By harnessing renewable solar energy, Delhi can move towards a cleaner energy mix and mitigate its carbon footprint.
- Lower electricity bills: Households generating their own solar power can experience significant cost savings on electricity bills.
- Encourage green jobs: The solar energy sector has the potential to create new job opportunities in installation, maintenance, and manufacturing.
- Delhi Jal Board Boost: A hefty ₹7,000 crore allocation aims to improve the Delhi Jal Board’s infrastructure for efficient water management and distribution. This can address water scarcity concerns and ensure equitable access to clean water for all residents.
These green initiatives demonstrate the Delhi government’s commitment to building a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future for the city.
Beyond the Highlights:
The budget also addresses other crucial areas, including:
- Strengthening public transport: A combined allocation of ₹510 crore for e-buses and ₹500 crore for Delhi Metro expansion aims to improve public transportation connectivity and reduce traffic congestion.
- Enhancing legal infrastructure: A budget of ₹3,000 crore for the judiciary signifies the government’s commitment to strengthening the legal system and ensuring timely access to justice.
- Improving infrastructure: An allocation of ₹1,800 crore for roads and flyovers aims to improve city infrastructure and facilitate smoother traffic flow.
