New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2022-23 in the Parliament today in which a new scheme, Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE), was announced. The scheme will be implemented through the North-Eastern Council, she added.
Rs 15,000 crore have been allocated for the scheme which will fund infrastructure in the spirit of PM GatiShakti, and social development projects which will be based on the needs felt in the North-East, read the official statement by Ministry of Development of North-East Region.
This will enable livelihood activities for youth and women, filling the gap in variou sectors, however it will not be a substitute for existing central and state schemes, Sitharaman added. While the Central Ministries may also pose their candidate projects, state projects will be given the priority.
PM-DevINE At A Glance
- The Finance Minister stated that the list of projects that will be initially funded under the scheme will be Establishment of Dedicated Services for the Management of Paediatric and Adult Hematolymphoid Cancers in North East India, Guwahati (Multi-State)
- NECTAR Livelihood Improvement Project (Multi-State)
- Promoting Scientific Organic Agriculture in North East Indian (Multi-State)
- Construction of Aizawl By-pass on Western Side
- Gap funding for Passenger Ropeway system for Pelling to Sanga-Choeling in West Sikkim
- Gap funding for Eco-friendly Ropeway (Cable Car) from Dhapper to Bhaleydhunga in South Sikkim
- Pilot Project for Construction of Bamboo Link Road at Different Locations in Various Districts in the State of Mizoram, among others.
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The Finance Minister ahead of the Budget presentation met President Ramnath Kovidn earlier in the day along with Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Bhagwat Karad and other Ministry officials.
Sitharaman read out the Union Budget 2022-23 from a tab, instead of carrying a ‘bahi khata’ in an attempt to go green