Budget Session 2019: As many as 15 crore entrepreneurs benefitted from Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: President Kovind

New Delhi, Jan 31 (KNN) A day before the interim budget 2019, the Budget Session of Parliament has begun today with President Ram Nath Kovind addressing the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Highlighting the government's achievements and various welfare schemes, President said that more than 15 crore entrepreneurs have taken benefits of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).

Women have been a big beneficiary of this scheme, more than 73 percent beneficiaries are women, he added.

He praised present government’s efforts of curbing black money and corruption to a great extent.

Addressing the gathering Kovind said “The government's crackdown on black money was seen during demonetization (notes ban). Notes ban helped integrate India's shadow economy with its regular economy. This strengthened India's market and stabilized India's financial sector.”

Besides, the government has also come down heavily on money laundering and has so far shut more than 26,000 illegal shell companies, he said. 

Calling GST a long-term policy and a boon for the business sector, he said “The taxpayers in the country trust this government.”

President said “India’s ease of doing business (EODB) ranking improved from 142^nd position in 2014 to 77^th position in 2018”.

With regard to measures related to women welfare, President said the present government has taken various measures and increase in maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks is one of them.