Dr Jitendra Singh thanks Finance Minister for signifying “National Bamboo Mission” in Budget-2018

New Delhi, February 2: Union Minister for North Eastern Region DoNER Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed gratitude after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the special “National Bamboo Mission" during Budget-2018 session. “National Bamboo Mission" has been allocated Rs. 1290 Crores to promote Promoting ‘Bamboo’ as ‘Green Gold’. 

Addressing the media, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the “Bamboo Mission has a special significance for Northeast and the announcement made by the Finance Minister today is a proof of the Union Government's continued commitment to the development of the region.”

 

Further he said it is also a pleasant coincidence that the budget announcement by Arun Jaitley has come close on the heels of the Union Cabinet's decision to amend the 90 year old "Indian Forest Act of 1927" and the amendment has exempted the bamboo grown in the non-forest land from the Forest Act.

Dr Jitendra Singh also lauded the announcement of Rs 10,000 Crore as "Fishery Fund" which will also benefit the people in Northeast.

Commenting on the overall highlights of the budget, Dr Jitendra Singh said, while the Finance Minister has been keen to take care of every section of society, the most significant part is the sensitivity with which it has addressed itself to some of those sections which had earlier not received the kind of attention they deserved. For example, this is for the first time that a Government has acknowledged the contribution of the salaried class which is contributing the bulk of income tax collections throughout the country and accordingly, certain exemptions announced specifically for this class.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the budget also deserves to be complimented for having evidently addressed the issue of the increasing population of senior citizens in India which is indeed going to become a bigger issue in the years to come. As the average lifespan increases, not only the number of senior citizens increases, but they are also faced with the issues of late-age illness, lack of caretakers for help and financial constraint. This, he said, has been taken care of by exemption of the interest on bank account from income tax up to Rs.50,000, enhancement of the health insurance amount up to Rs.50,000 and hike in medical expenditure.