As cooperative activities encompass a gamut of activities, cooperative leaders have reacted to the Union Budget depending on what the Budget offers to their sectors. IFFCO Managing Director Dr U S Awasthi has hailed the Union Budget on two counts-its rural slant and emphasis on increased women participation.
Talking to Indian Cooperative from Bangalore on the phone Dr Awasthi said“I am happy the union budget is aimed at igniting rural-related activities on one hand and would lead to greater gender participation on the other”.
On the issues of rural credit, Fasal Bima Yojna, sops for the dairy sector, emphasis on soil health card and increase in the outlays for irrigation IFFCO MD gave full marks to the Budget.
Presenting Budget in Parliament on Wednesday, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said adequate credit would be made available to the farmers in time and the target for agricultural credit in 2017-18 has been fixed at a record level of 10 lakh crore.
Awasthi also lauded the Minister for increasing the participation of women up to 50% in MANREGA. The MGNREGA allocation has been increased to Rs 48,000 crore -the -highest ever, he said.
The IFFCO MD also hailed the fact that Mahila Shakti Kendras will be set-up at village level with an allocation of Rs. 500 crore in 14 lakh ICDS Anganwadi Centres. This will provide one stop convergent support services for empowering rural women with opportunities for skill development, employment, digital literacy, health and nutrition.