The Weekend Leader - 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' gets loudest applause in FM's speech

'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' gets loudest applause in FM's speech

Rajnish Singh   |  New Delhi

01-February-2020

The Lok Sabha reverberated with loudest-ever thumping of desks, signifying praise, by lawmakers when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her Budget 2020 speech on Saturday, said that Centre's "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" scheme has shown impressive results.

The announcement was even applauded by opposition members, except those of the Trinamool Congress, who took on the government over the issue with its senior leader Kalyan Banerjee asking: "How much money was allocated to West Bengal under the scheme?"

Members of the Lok Sabha, which noted the presence of almost every MP barring from some 20-25 from opposition parties, continued thumping their desks when Sitharaman, while on the women and child welfare issue, said: "I am pleased to inform the House that 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' has yielded tremendous results."

"Gross enrolment ratio of girls across all levels of education is now higher than boys. At elementary level, it is 94.3 as against 89.28 per cent for boys," the Finance Minister said. "At secondary level, it is 81.32 per cent as compared to 78 per cent. At higher secondary level, girls have achieved a level of 59.70 per cent as compared to 57.54 per cent for boys."

The treasury benches applauded again when Sitharaman proposed allocation of Rs 35,600 crore for nutrition related programmes for the financial year 2020-2021 given the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and announced appointment of a task force that will present its recommendations in sixth month over the issue.

There was another round of applause witnessed in the House when the Minister said: "Our government's commitment to the welfare of women is continuing and that this budget provides for about Rs 28,600 crore for programmes that are specific to women.

The Union Budget presented by Sitharaman for the second consecutive year as a full-fledged Finance Minister was historic in more than one way, and the mood in Lok Sabha was upbeat and enthusiastic.

In her marathon 160-minute speech, Sitharaman, however, had to face criticism of opposition parties on various occasions over her announcements and goals for the financial year 2020-2021 and onward years. However, the treasury benches, comprising especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Cabinet colleagues, congratulated her on completion of her speech.

It was a one of the longest budget speeches made by Finance Ministers.

Trinamool's Banerjee, however, slammed Sitharaman, saying "this is the biggest lie of the country" when she announced that the government has "estimated nominal growth of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for year 2020-2021, on the basis of trends available, at 10 per cent".

The Trinamool was seen most aggressive among all the opposition parties during Sitharaman's speech which saw almost full attendance not just on the floor of the House but also in the visitors' gallery. While the media gallery was packed with provisions of extra row of chairs than usual, the visitors' gallery too was packed with many youngsters in attendance.

The visitors' gallery also saw members of Sitharaman's family present. More than a dozen Rajya Sabha members across the political spectrum were also present in the visitors gallery to witness the proceedings.

Majority of women lawmakers were seen wearing traditional Indian saris, including Sitharaman who chose to wear a yellow one.

It was an engrossing speech in the beginning when Sitharaman announced that this budget is to "boost income, enhance purchasing power and to end the dreaded inspector raj", but later as many opposition MPs were seen sleeping, with one sitting near to Biju Janata Dal's Bhartruhari Mahatab. Mahatab was seen indicating other colleagues about the sleeping MP.

BJP MPs and those sitting in visitors gallery were visible happy in their expression when Sitharaman announced personal income tax and simplification of taxation.

Another round of applause began as she announced: "I propose to bring a new and simplified personal income tax regime under which an individual shall be required to pay tax at the reduced rate of 10 per cent for income between 5 lakh to 7.5 lakh against the current rate of 20 per cent."

She was lauded for announcing lowering of individual income tax on different slabs between Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. The Minister also announced that those earning up to Rs 5 lakh shall not pay any tax either in the old regime or the new regime.-IANS



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