Experts seek focus on infrastructure, women’s health & education in Union budget 2025-26
MANSI BHAMBRI | DEHRADUN
Experts have indicated that the Union budget 2025-26 should focus on key areas such as infrastructure development, women’s health and welfare, educational advancement and other related factors. They said this in anticipation of the Union budget for 2025-26 which the Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present in the Parliament today. The authorities should prioritise elements that originally contributed to the vision of Viksit Bharat, including employment, climate change, agricultural enhancement and other significant factors, they said.
Talking to The Pioneer, the head of the Economics department at Doon University, RP Mamgain stated that the Central government consistently strives to advance the concept of Viksit Bharat, which signifies a move towards self-reliance. He asserted that infrastructure development is of critical importance to realise the goals associated with the Viksit Bharat concept.
The authorities must prioritise the budget towards infrastructure development, which encompasses improving road connectivity and upgrading agricultural facilities through the establishment of facilities like cold storage. This will enable farmers to store their produce effectively and present it at the market in a timely manner. In addition to infrastructure development, the budget should also focus on educational initiatives. This includes promoting skill training programmes for the youth, which will in turn create more employment opportunities. Additionally, it is important to highlight that the budget should address climate change considerations as a key focus area, he said.
“As a resident of Uttarakhand, my primary focus is on the budget that will initiate the development of the region. It is imperative that the budget prioritises herbal medicine, as this sector has the potential to greatly benefit Uttarakhand, given its mountainous geography. The authorities ought to allocate funds specifically for herbal medicine initiatives, which should encompass schemes dedicated to this area. In addition, I anticipate a budget allocation for tourism that will seek to promote other states as well as ours by identifying new destination sites. Further, tax relief is important for citizens in the budget as this would contribute to stabilising market conditions through increased disposable income,” the Student Welfare dean at Doon University, HC Purohit said.
Further, while discussing the characteristics of a women-oriented budget, Government PG College, Uttarkashi faculty member Madhu Thapliyal opined that it is essential for the authorities to ensure that the 2025 budget is women-centric. However, in drafting the budget, the authorities must first consider the specific needs and demands of women. She highlighted that women’s health should be the foremost priority in the budget. To enhance health outcomes, the authorities should focus on creating a budget that reduces the cost of nutritious food, including dried fruits and other essential items. By doing so, they can effectively affirm their commitment to women’s empowerment.
She further emphasised that for women, the budget should also focus on free testing for cervical cancer as many hospitals charge exorbitant rates for testing.
