Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her speech in Rajya Sabha on Thursday (December 7) said that both the rural and urban economies are seeing support from the government. She added that funds allocated to rural houses have shot up majorly.
Elaborating, she said employment generated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has now grown to 248 crore man-days. However, Sitharaman did have a warning for some states on MNREGA spendings. "I want some of the states to correct their practice of using public money like MNREGA to make roads for private tea estates."
The finance minister went on to highlight the Indian currency that is gaining strength, stating that the rupee is standing up on the strength of the Indian economy. "It is not a fiction (sic) of my imagination," she added.
Her speech on the floor of the House came after a clarification that the upcoming February 1 Budget will primarily serve as a vote on account. She emphasised that the Budget will refrain from any "spectacular announcements.”
"I am not going to play a spoilsport but it is a matter of truth that the February 1 Budget will just be a vote on account. We are in an election mode and the election happens during the coming summer. So, the Budget that the government presents will just be able to or will just be a Budget to meet the expenditure of the government till a new government comes into play," the FM said at the CII's Global Economic Policy Forum 2023 in New Delhi.
Also Read:Not going to play a 'spoilsport' but Feb 1 Budget will have no 'spectacular announcements': FM
