New Delhi, Feb 28 (KNN) Marking the beginning of cooperative federalism and empowerment of the states, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech said, ‘Government has embraced states as equal partners of growth. Every rupee of public expenditure, whether by centre or states will contribute to betterment of people's lives.’
 
Talking about three key achievements of the Government, the Jan Dhan Yojana, transparent coal block auctions to augment resources of the states and ‘Swachh Bharat’, a movement to regenerate India. Shri Jaitley said that India has now commenced on two more game changing reforms which are GST and the JAM Trinity-Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile-to implement direct transfer of benefits.
 
He said that to improve the quality of life and to pass the benefits to the common man being the objectives of his government and with an improved growth environment, the World is predicting that it is India’s chance to fly as India’s growth forecast has stayed the same or has scaled up. 
 
A slew of low-cost pension and insurance schemes, including Atal Pension Yojana, that will provide defined pension according to contribution (50 per cent contribution would be made by the government) , and Universal Social Security scheme were announced along with the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana that will be linked to Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to increase access to insurance. For a premium of just Rs 12 a year, the scheme will offer coverage of Rs. 2 lakh.
 
The third Social Security Scheme that the Minister announced is the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana which covers both natural and accidental death risk of Rs. 2 lakhs.
 
Rs. 33,152 crore has been allocated to the health sector and Rs. 79,526 crore for rural development activities including MGNREGA, Rs. 22,407 crore for housing and urban development, Rs. 10,351 crore for women and child development, Rs. 4,173 crore for Water Resources and Namami Gange. (KNN/SS)