Budget: Modi govt to go full steam with vote on account

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, January 12: The Narendra Modi government at the Centre is likely to make a full use of the vote on account ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. While the convention makes it incumbent on government to seek approval of parliament only for expenses till new government is formed, indications are emerging that the Modi dispensation will be more ambitious in making the projections and even unveiling new initiatives.

The power corrodes is abuzz with anticipation that the Modi government may broaden the scope of the Ayushman Bharat Yojna to make it a major poll plank in the Lok Sabha elections. Informed sources stated that the major health scheme can see a major expansion in coverage of the beneficiaries.

There are even discussions among the informed officials that the Modi government can make the medical insurance scheme universal with exclusion only of the tax payers. There are just about seven crore tax payers in the country. Sources argued that the move could be a major outreach of the Modi government among the middle class.

Incidentally, the Opposition is amplifying the issue of unemployment and price rise in the country in their bids to reach out to the middle class vote base in the country. With petrol and diesel prices remaining unchanged for several months and cooking gas also creating holes in the budget of the middle class, the Modi government is seeking a way out to offer balm to the segment of the voters.   

At the same time, the Modi government may also try the idea of increasing the installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi Scheme. Currently, the farmers get three installments of Rs 2000 each. If the idea gets translated in the February 1 vote on account, the farmers may get four installments of Rs 2000 each.

The Budget session of parliament is commencing on January 31. As is the custom, President Droupadi Murmu will address the joint session of parliament. She will give an account of the achievements of her government in the last year. With poll in sight, the President may also give an exhaustive account of the achievements of the Modi government.

Besides, the informed sources said that the Modi government will make further stress on infrastructure development in the country. The Railways will gain the major attention. The focus will be on upgradation of the railway infrastructure with boosting of the capacity of tracks. Also, rail station development may be in the focus.  

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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