Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee flanked by MoS, S.S. Palanimanickam (right) and Namo Narain Meena leaving the Finance Ministry to present the General Budget at the Lok Sabha on February 28, 2011. Photo: V.V. Krishnan
The long-pending demand of Anganwadi workers and helpers is finally met in this Budget. The salaries of Anganwadi workers and helpers have been increased to Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 1,500 per month, respectively. Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
The qualifying age for senior citizens is reduced from 65 to 60 years. Their exemption limit is also enhanced. In addition, the Budget announced a higher exemption limit of Rs. 5 lakh for Very Senior Citizens, who are 80 years or above. Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
In a move to boost the use of clean energy, excise duty on imports of certain parts of electric vehicles has been slashed. Solar lanterns will now cost less as the Basic Customs Duty is reduced. Photo: K. Ramesh Babu
For an effective implementation of Right to Education Act, Rs. 21,000 crore is allocated to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Photo: M. Periasamy
Allocation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana has been increased to Rs. 7,860 crore. The fund will be primarily used to streamline production and distribution of items such as fruits and vegetables, milk, meat, poultry and fish. Photo: K. Murali Kumar
Rs. 300 crore is allocated for implementation of vegetable initiative to provide quality vegetable at competitive prices.
To boost infrastructure development, it has been proposed to issue tax free bonds of Rs. 30,000 crore through government undertakings during 2011-12. Photo: H. Vibhu
The government proposes to move towards direct transfer of cash subsidy to people living below poverty line in a phased manner for better delivery of kerosene, LPG and fertilizers. Photo: K.R. Deepak
Under the Bharat Nirman programme, rural broadband connectivity will be provided to all 2,50,000 Panchayats in thecountry in the next three years. Photo: Special Arrangement
Interest subvention is proposed to be enhanced to 3 per cent for providing short-term crop loans to farmers who repay their loan on time. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
In pursuance of last year's budget announcement to provide a real wage of Rs. 100 per day, the government has decided to index the wage rates notified under the MGNREGA to the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour. Photo: M. Srinath
The Finance Minister has allocated Rs. 300 crore to promote 60,000 pulses villages in rainfed areas. He is optimistic that pulses production would reach self-sufficient levels in the next three years. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
A special allocation of Rs. 200 crore is proposed for clean-up of someimportant lakes and rivers other than the River Ganga. Photo: Special Arrangement
The Central Government has proposed to create “Women’s SHG’s Development Fund” with a corpus of Rs. 500 crore. Photo: Special Arrangement
In a bid to encourage transparency, Rs. 300 crore assistancewill be provided to States to modernise their stamp and registration administration. Photo: R. Eswarraj
