Budget – Jaitley announces health, edu infra initiative ‘RISE’, 24 medical colleges

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 1, 2018, said that estimated budgetary expenditure on health, education and social protection for 2018-19 will be Rs 1.38 lakh crore against estimated expenditure of Rs.1.22 lakh crore in 2017-18.

On education front, Jaitley announced setting up of ‘Ekalavya Model Residential School’ on par with Navodaya Vidyalayas to provide the best quality education to the tribal children in their own environment by 2022 in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons with special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.

To step up investments in research and related infrastructure in premier educational institutions, including health institutions, a major initiative named ‘Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) by 2022’ with a total investment of Rs 1,00,000 crore in next four years was announced, according to a PIB release.

He said that a survey of more than 20 lakh children has been conducted to assess the status on the ground, which will help in devising a district-wise strategy for improving quality of education.

To improve the quality of teachers an integrated BEd programme for teachers will be initiated.  Jaitley said the Government would launch the ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF)’ Scheme this year. Under this, 1,000 best BTech students will be identified each year from premier institutions and provide them facilities to do Ph.D in IITs and IISc, with a handsome fellowship. Allocation on National Social Assistance Programme this year has been kept at Rs 9,975 crore.

The Finance Minister announced the world’s largest government funded health care programme, National Health Protection Scheme, to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. He also committed Rs 1,200 crore for the National Health Policy, 2017, which with 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres will bring health care system closer to the homes of people.

The Government also decided to allocate additional Rs 600 crore to provide nutritional support to all TB patients at the rate of Rs 500 per month for the duration of their treatment. Jaitley said the government will be setting up 24 new Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals by upgrading existing district hospitals in the country, according to the PIB release.

On cleaning the Ganga, the Finance Minister said, a total of 187 projects have been sanctioned under the Namami Gange programme for infrastructure development, river surface cleaning, rural sanitation and other interventions at a cost of Rs 16,713 crore. All 4,465 Ganga Grams – villages on the bank of river – have been declared open defecation free.