Sonowal: Union Budget will empower tribals

Shillong: The Union Budget 2024 will empower tribal communities with near 200% increase in outlay of Rs 13,000 crores, Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said during a discussion with leaders of business community, youth and women from the region here on Saturday.
He said there would be a boost in job creation in the state as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) gets integrated with Meghalaya Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy.
“The Union Budget aims to realize Meghalaya’s tremendous potential in natural farming and horticulture,” Sonowal said, adding, Northeast India stands to benefit as the Budget it aims to empower the region’s economic, industrial and agricultural sectors with the enablement of youth, women and tribal communities.
“Another landmark scheme for serving social justice for the tribal communities, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram, was announced in this Budget which will aim at improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities. This will benefit directly five crore tribals in 63,000 villages,” he said.
Highlighting the budgetary boost for agriculture in the Northeast, and in reference to natural farming in particular, Sonowal said,“The release of 109 high yielding and climate resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops offers an opportunity for Meghalaya, a pioneer in this field, to multiply income generation and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. An allocation of Rs 598 crores for the eco-friendly sustainable agriculture project will control the adverse effects of climate change, soil erosion and insect, pest and disease infestation.”