Himachal to get financial assistance for 2023 rain disaster rehabilitation, Nirmala Sitharaman announces in Budget
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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced significant financial assistance for Himachal Pradesh in the Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25. The aid is intended to support the state’s rehabilitation efforts following the devastating floods that hit last year. Similar assistance will also be extended to Uttarakhand and Assam.
“Himachal Pradesh, which has suffered extensive losses due to floods, will receive support for reconstruction through multilateral assistance,” Sitharaman declared, emphasising the central government’s commitment to aiding the affected regions.
In addition to flood relief, the Finance Minister unveiled several other national initiatives, which would also benefit the youth and farmers of Himachal Pradesh.
Youth Internships
The government will provide one crore youth with opportunities to intern in the top-500 companies over the next five years. These 12-month internships aim to enhance employability and skill development, directly benefiting the youth of Himachal Pradesh.
Agriculture, horticulture support
Farmers and gardeners in Himachal Pradesh will benefit from the release of 109 new high-yielding and climate-friendly varieties of 32 agricultural and horticultural crops. Additionally, the government will initiate natural farming practices, assisting one crore farmers with certifications and branding over the next two years. To support this, 10,000 need-based bio-input resource centres will be established, focusing on production, storage, and marketing of crops.
A mission-mode approach will be adopted for pulses and oilseeds, with crop surveys conducted in 400 districts. These measures are expected to significantly benefit the farmers and gardeners of Himachal Pradesh, where 90 per cent of the population resides in rural areas and 70 per cent rely directly on agriculture. The state’s apple gardening industry, a Rs 5,000 crore economy, stands to gain from these initiatives.
