Goa CM Praises Union Budget 2024-25 for 'Gaanv,' 'Gareeb,' and Industrial Growth

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant praised the Union Budget for its focus on rural and industrial growth, promising extensive benefits for Goa. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's seventh consecutive budget prioritizes agriculture, employment, and infrastructure, aiming to sustain economic growth and development for the next 25 years.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant praised the Union Budget for its comprehensive focus on various sectors, describing it as a 'pro budget' for rural areas, the poor, and the industrial sector. 'The extensive expenditure on defense, rural development, agriculture, education, IT, health, energy, software, commerce, and industry suggests this budget favors villages, the economically disadvantaged, and the industrial sector,' Sawant told the media on Tuesday.

Sawant asserted that Goa is set to benefit significantly from the budget. 'We will maximize the benefits from this budget through infrastructure development, schemes, and special proposals for Goa,' he added.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the budget aligns with Prime Minister Modi's 25-year vision of 'Viksit Bharat.' On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her record seventh consecutive Union Budget for 2024-25 during the Budget Session of Parliament, surpassing former Prime Minister Morarji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets.

In her seventh consecutive budget, Sitharaman outlined key priorities centered on fostering economic growth and creating opportunities. These priorities include productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment and skilling, inclusive human resource development and social justice, manufacturing and services, urban development, energy security, infrastructure, innovation, research and development, and next-generation reforms.

Sitharaman announced new tax reforms under the revised tax regime, including an increased standard deduction for salaried individuals. Key income-tax reforms for the fiscal year 2024-25 aim to simplify tax laws, promote compliance, and foster economic growth. Additionally, Sitharaman proposed creating employment for about 4.1 crore youth over the next five years, with an allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore.

Furthermore, to enhance job opportunities through skill development, Rs 1.48 crore has been allocated to skill 20 lakh youth over five years, and 1,000 industrial training institutes will be upgraded. (ANI)