A People-Centric Budget Realizing Maharashtra’s Development Vision – Minister Pankaja Munde

Mumbai : Finance Minister Ajit Pawar’s budget is a step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Developed India and plays a crucial role in fulfilling Maharashtra’s development aspirations. It will also contribute significantly to making India the third-largest economy in the world, stated Minister of Animal Husbandry, Environment & Climate Change, Pankaja Munde. She further highlighted that this budget emphasizes employment generation alongside economic progress.

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented this year’s state budget in the legislature. It is structured around five key areas—agriculture, industry, infrastructure, employment generation, and social development. Significant allocations have been made for sectors such as agriculture, education, irrigation, women’s welfare, healthcare, manpower development, transportation, tourism, culture, and industry. The budget ensures justice for farmers, women, youth, Scheduled Castes, Tribals, Other Backward Classes, and persons with disabilities. The government is committed to making women self-reliant through initiatives like Lakhpati Didi and Ladki Bahin, Munde stated.

Major Benefits for Marathwada

The budget includes substantial provisions for the Animal Husbandry, Environment, and Climate Change departments. A major project to divert 54.70 TMC of water from the Ulhas and Vaitarna river basins in the Konkan region to the Godavari basin has been initiated. This project will significantly benefit irrigation across approximately 2.4 lakh hectares in Marathwada. Additionally, a ₹4,300 crore bamboo plantation project has been introduced to promote bamboo-based industries, which will be highly beneficial for farmers.

Minister Munde also extended her appreciation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for presenting this development-focused budget.