New Delhi: Highlighting the Narendra Modi government’s focus on extending assistance to the youth for fulfilling their entrepreneurial aspirations, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman on Thursday said the policies have helped young Indians to become ‘Rozgardata’ (generators of employment).
Presenting the interim Union Budget at the Lok Sabha here, Sitharaman said the government’s focus is on four “major sections” including the Yuva (youth). The other three classes are ‘Garib’ (poor), ‘Mahilayen’ (women) and ‘Annadata’ (farmer).
The Finance Minister noted that the Skill India Mission has trained 1.4 crore youth and upskilled and re-skilled 54 lakh young people.
Sitharaman said the government has established 3000 new ITIs, 7 IITs, 16 IIITs, 7 IIMs, 15 AIIMS and 390 Universities.
On the National Education Policy 2020, she said it is ushering in transformational reforms. “PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) are delivering quality teaching, and nurturing holistic and well-rounded individuals,” she said.
She informed that the PM Mudra Yojana has sanctioned 43 crore loans aggregating to Rs 22.5 lakh crore for the entrepreneurial aspirations of the country’s youth. “Besides that, Fund of Funds, Start-Up India, and Start-Up Credit Guarantee schemes are assisting our youth. They are also becoming rozgardata,” the Finance Minister said.
Referring to the achievements in sports, the Finance Minister said “The country is proud of our youth scaling new heights in sports”.
“The highest ever medal tally in Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2023 reflects a high confidence level,” the FM said, adding “Today, India has over 80 chess Grandmasters compared to a little over 20 in 2010”.
