Budget speech

  
Employment Exchanges:
 
I propose to launch a new project for modernisation of the Employment Exchanges in public private partnership so that a job seeker can register on-line from anywhere and approach any employment exchange. Under the project, a national web portal with common software will be developed.  This will contain all the data regarding availability of skilled persons on the one hand and requirements of skilled persons by the industry on the other.  It will help youth get placed and enable industry to procure required skills on real time basis.
 
Handlooms:
 
In the last Budget two mega handloom clusters at Varanasi and Sibsagar and two mega powerloom clusters at Erode and Bhiwandi were approved. They are under successful implementation. I propose to add one handloom mega cluster each in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and one powerloom mega cluster in Rajasthan.  These will help preserve the magnificent textile traditions in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and generate thousands of jobs in Rajasthan. In addition, I propose to add new mega clusters for Carpets in Srinagar (J&K) and Mirzapur (UP).
 
Health:
 
The National Rural Health Mission is an essential instrument for achieving our goal of Health for all. I propose an increase of Rs 2,057 crore over and above Rs 12,070 crore provided in the Interim Budget. 
 
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was operationalised last year.  The initial response has been very good. More than 46 lakh BPL families in eighteen States and UTs have been issued biometric smart cards.  This scheme empowers poor families by giving them freedom of choice for using health care services from an extensive list of hospitals including private hospitals. Government proposes to bring all BPL families under this scheme. An amount of Rs 350 crore, marking 40% increase over the previous allocation, is being provided in 2009-10 Budget Estimates.
 
Environment and Climate Change:
 
The National Action Plan on Climate Change unveiled last year, outlines our strategy to adapt to Climate Change and enhance the ecological sustainability of our development path. Following this, eight national missions representing a multi-pronged, long term and integrated approach are being launched. I propose to provide necessary funds for these missions.
 
Our government has already set up a 'National Ganga River Basin Authority' (NGRBA). I propose increasing the budgetary outlay for the National River and Lake Conservation Plans to Rs 562 crore in 2009-10 from Rs 335 crore in 2008-09.
 
I propose to make a special one-time grant of Rs 100 crore to the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun in recognition of its excellence in the field of research, education and extension. I also propose an allocation of Rs 15 crore each for the Botanical Survey of India and  Zoological Survey of India. An additional amount of Rs 15 crore is being allocated to  Geological Survey of India.