Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget 2024 on Thursday. He reiterated the government's commitment to further strengthen the country's healthcare system in this budget.
Sitharaman proposed to form more and more medical colleges in the country and utilize the infrastructure of existing hospitals. A committee will be formed to keep an eye on these.
An important announcement in the budget is to start cervical cancer vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 years. Several maternal and child care schemes have also been launched in the budget, the focus of which is to accelerate efficient Anganwadis and Nutrition 2.0.
Along with this, Asha workers and Anganwadi workers will also be given health coverage under Ayushman Bharat. Sitharaman said that the Digital India initiative will be taken forward, under which a new Un-Win platform will be launched across the country. This platform will be used to further the efforts of managing vaccination and managing Mission Indradhanush.
According to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy, only 0.26 percent of GDP was spent on healthcare in financial year 2014. This expenditure remained almost constant (0.25 percent) for the next three years. However, this expenditure increased to 0.31 percent in financial year 2018. Similarly, in the financial years 2019 and 2020, this expenditure was 0.29 percent and 0.32 percent.
Account of expenditure in education sector in past years
Sitharaman also presented the account of the education sector in the Budget 2024-2025. He said that Skill India Mission was successful. Under this, 1.4 crore youth were trained, 54 lakh people were reskilled and 3000 new industrial training centers were established.
He told that in the last years, seven IITs, 16 IIITs, seven IIMs, 15 AIIMS and 390 universities have been formed in the country.
In the last decade, enrollment of women in higher educational institutions has increased by 28 percent. This shows the government's objective of focusing on women in the field of education.
Report: Ankita Tiwari
