Outlining the roadmap for the economic growth over next five years, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday punctuated her speech with a number of achievements of the Modi government as it continues in power at the centre in its second term.
Sitharaman said the ambitious programme of providing toilets to the people across the country which was initiated in 2014-15 has progressed well.
“I am Happy and satisfied to report that India will be made Open Defecation Free on October 2nd, 2019, as per the dream of Prime Minister,” she said as Narendra Modi and other ministers were seen thumping the desks.
Finance Minister maintained to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, a Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra will be inaugurated at Raj Ghat, on October 2, 2019 and the ‘Gandhipedia’ in the line of Wikipedia will be developed to spread positive Gandhian values across the globe and in cyber space.
Sitharaman said the newly set up Jal Shakti Ministry will work with states to ensure ‘Har Ghar Jal for all rural houses by 2024, under a national level Jal Jeevan Mission.
Unveiling the roadmap for boosting economy, among other measures, Finance Minister said the government will provide Non-resident Indians (NRIs) a seamless access to Indian equities and the NRI portfolio investment route will be merged with foreign portfolio investment route.
She said that the Phase 3 of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana will envisage upgrading of 1.25 lakh km of road length at an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crores.
She also proposed setting up of 100 new clusters in fiscal 2019-20 which will enable 50,000 artisans to join the economic value chain.
