Union Budget 2025 | Centre to launch Rural Rural Prosperity and Resilience programme

New Delhi: The Centre wants to partner with the state governments to launch a multi-sectoral programme to create enough opportunities for people in the rural areas so that they are not forced to migrate to urban areas in search of livelihood.

The programme will focus on rural women, young farmers, rural youth, marginal and small farmers, and landless families. The government will seek funding from the multilateral banks.

“A comprehensive multi-sectoral ‘Rural Prosperity and Resilience’ programme will be launched in partnership with states. This will address under-employment in agriculture through skilling, investment, technology, and invigorating the rural economy,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while presenting the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha on Saturday. “The goal is to generate ample opportunities in rural areas so that migration is an option, but not a necessity.”

The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister last month came out with a report that revealed that the estimated number of domestic migrants had stood at 40,20,90,396 in 2023, which was 11.78% lesser than the figure registered as per Census 2011.

The programme will focus on catalyzing enterprise development, employment and financial independence for rural women, accelerating creation of new employment and businesses for young farmers and rural youth, nurturing and modernizing agriculture for productivity improvement and warehousing, especially for marginal and small farmers, and diversifying opportunities for landless families.

The programme will cover 100 developing agri-districts in the first phase.

“Global and domestic best practices will be incorporated, and appropriate technical and financial assistance will be sought from multilateral development banks,” said Sitharaman.

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Union Budget 2025 | Nirmala Sitharaman, as Finance Minister, presented her record 8th Union Budget this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', the Modi govt gave income tax relief for those making up to Rs 12 lakh per year in salaried income. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on Deccan Herald. Also follow us on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.