Economic Survey 2021-22: President addresses both houses of Parliament; Says, "India has once again become one of the fastest-growing economies of the world"

31 Jan 2022 , 11:30 AM

The President of India Ram Nath Kovind has started addressing both houses of the Parliament. The President’s speech began at 11 am and is ahead of the Economic Survey 2021-22 that is scheduled to be announced later in the day.

After President’s address, the Lok Sabha will be gathered for the transaction of business. Later, today, the Economic Survey will be announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

President Kovind said that “with the continuous efforts of my Government, India has once again become one of the fastest growing economies of the world.”

He said, “My government is working relentlessly to empower the rural economy and the farmers of the country. Keeping in mind the record production, the government has made a record government procurement.” He stated that due to the policies of my government, today India is one of the countries where the cost of internet is the lowest, and the cost of smart phones is also the lowest. The young generation of India is getting huge benefit from this.”

He also said, “I would also appreciate the vision of the government for the success of the country’s UPI platform in the context of Digital India and the growing spread of the digital economy. In December 2021, more than 8 lakh crore rupees have been transacted through UPI in the country.”

Here is other key statement from President:

To give further impetus to the infrastructure-development works, my government has clubbed the workings of different ministries together in the form of Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan.

Building roads, resources and infrastructure in rural areas is taking flight to the country’s potential which had been neglected for decades. The achievements of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana are something to be proud of.

In March 2014, the total length of national highways in our country was 90 thousand kilometers, whereas today their length has increased to more than one lakh forty thousand kilometers.

Services have been started on 11 new metro lines in the country, which are benefiting lakhs of people in 8 states every day.

Our start-up eco-system is an example of the endless new possibilities that are rapidly taking shape under the leadership of our youth.

The role of women in driving the rural economy is becoming more widespread. In 2021-22, 28 lakh self-help groups have been given assistance of Rs 65 thousand crore by banks. This amount is 4 times more than in 2014-15.

One lakh eighty thousand crore rupees have been given to more than 11 crore farmer families through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. With this investment, big changes are visible in the agriculture sector today.

The country’s agricultural exports have also increased at a record level due to the efforts of the government. Agriculture exports registered a growth of more than 25 percent in the year 2020-21. This export has reached about Rs 3 lakh crore.

Jal Jeevan Mission started with the objective of delivering ‘Har Ghar Jal’ has started making a big difference in the lives of the people.

Due to the continuous efforts of the last years, more than two crore pucca houses have been provided to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin’, one crore seventeen lakh houses have been sanctioned in the last three years at a cost of about 1.5 lakh crore rupees.

The way my government has linked Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile i.e. JAM trinity with citizen empowerment, we are also constantly seeing the effect of it. Due to the connectivity of more than 44 crore poor countrymen with the banking system, crores of beneficiaries have got the benefit of direct cash transfer during the pandemic.

The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, launched by the government at a cost of Rs.64 thousand crores, is a commendable example. This will not only help in meeting the present health needs but also prepare the country for the coming crises.

Due to the sensitive policies of my government, now health services are easily accessible to the common man in the country. More than 80 thousand health and wellness centers and crores of Ayushman Bharat cards have helped the poor in their treatment.

The government has reduced the cost of treatment by making medicines available at affordable prices through more than 8000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

Today, more than 90 percent of adult citizens in the country have received one dose of the vaccine, while more than 70 percent have received both.