New Delhi, Feb 01, 2023, IANS

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) The Centre has launched a 15,000 crore development fund for the tribal and marginalised section, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Wednesday.

"Pradhan Mantri PVTG(particularly vulnerable tribal groups) Development Mission is being launched to improve the socio-economic condition of the vulnerable groups. A total of Rs 15,000 crore will be made available to implement the scheme in the next three years." the FM announced in her Union Budget 2023 speech.

The special focus on tribals is that the government wants to capitalise it ahead of polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand.

The Indian economy, the FM said, is on a "right track and heading towards a bright future" and the current focus is on reforms as sound policies resulting in public participation have helped in increasing the country's global profile.

"Our focus on reforms and sound policies resulting in Jan Bhagidari helped us in trying times, our rising global profile is due to several accomplishments," she said.

Sitharaman further said that the entire expenditure of about Rs 2 lakh crore under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is being borne by the Central government, for supplying free foodgrains for a year to all Antyodaya and priority households.

She said that the Indian economy has increased in size from being the 10th to the fifth largest in the world in the last nine years.

"We have made significant progress in many SDGs, the economy has become a lot more formalized, efficient implementation of schemes has brought about inclusive development, the minister Sitharaman said.

Economic agenda focuses on facilitating opportunities for citizens, providing strong impetus to growth and job creation, and strengthening macroeconomic stability, she added.

Sitharaman went on to say that the seven priority areas of the Union Budget are inclusive development; reaching the last mile; infrastructure and investment; unleashing the potential; green growth; youth; and the financial sector

"Cooperative base model has been adopted to support the small and marginalised farmers and a national cooperative database is being prepared."