The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley, while announcing the General Budget 2018-19 in Parliament today announced important measures to give a boost to livelihoods in rural areas of the country. “As my proposals outlined indicate, focus of the Government next year will be on providing maximum livelihood opportunities in the rural areas by spending more on livelihood, agriculture and allied activities and construction of rural infrastructure”, the Minister said.

Shri Jaitley informed that in 2018-19, for creation of livelihood and infrastructure in rural areas, total amount to be spent by various Ministries will be ₹ 14.34 lakh crore, including extra-budgetary and non-budgetary resources of ₹ 11.98 lakh crore.  Apart from employment due to farming activities and self employment, this expenditure will create employment of 321 crore person days, 3.17 lakh kilometers of rural roads, 51 lakh new rural houses, 1.88 crore toilets, and provide 1.75 crore new household electric connections besides boosting agricultural growth.

Further, the Government substantially increased the allocation of National Rural Livelihood Mission to ₹ 5750 crore in 2018-19. Shri Jaitley said that loans to Self Help Groups (SHGs) of women increased to about ₹ 42,500 crore in 2016-17, growing 37% over previous year.   The Government is confident that loans to SHGs will increase to ₹ 75,000 crore by March, 2019, the Minister added.

Strengthening the Ground water irrigation scheme under Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojna - Har Khet ko Pani – the Government allocated ₹ 2600 crore for this purpose. This would provide assured irrigation in 96 deprived irrigation districts where less than 30% of the land holdings get that presently, the Minister said.

Rural livelihood funding expands to boost employment, rural infrastructure and assured irrigation in deprived districts. A consolidated rural development expenditure of Rs.14.34 lakh crore for 2018-19 is proposed to create livelihood and infrastructure in rural areas, delivering employment, rural roads, new houses, toilets and household electricity while boosting agricultural growth. Complementary allocations increase funding for the National Rural Livelihood Mission to expand credit and support to women Self Help Groups, and dedicate resources under the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojna to strengthen groundwater irrigation and provide assured irrigation in deprived districts.