Parliament’s budget session historic: Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the Budget Session of Parliament was historic as it heralded the advancement of the budget cycle as also the merger of the railway budget with general budget.

“This is a historic session heralding the advancement of the budget cycle and merger of the railway budget with general budget for the first time in independent India,” said Mukherjee addressing members of both the houses.

“We gather once again to celebrate democracy and cherished value and culture that has prospered through out the long history of our country. A culture that guides my governmnet towards ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’,” he added.

The budget will be presented on Wednesday.

The session will take a break from February 9, reconvene on March 9 and end on April 12.

Over Rs two lakh crore sanctioned under Mudra scheme

President said the government has provided over Rs two lakh crore through 5.6 crore loans sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.

Addressing the joint sitting of both houses of parliament, the President said that core of the government’s policies was welfare of the poor, Dalits, farmers, labourers and the youth.

“My government salutes the strength of janashakti (people’s power) and pledges to constructively utilise it in Rashtra Nirman (nation building),” Mukherjee added.

President said that the government has taken several initiatives to provide healthcare to all, including an immunisation programme that helped 55 lakh children.

“My government has taken several initiatives in the healthcare sector, basically to make it affordable for the poor section,” said Mukherjee addressing a joint session of parliament.

“Mission Indradhanush is one of them which has so far helped 55 lakh children get immunised against several diseases,” he said.

Mukherjee also referred to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Scheme – a government initiative – that helped healthcare and medicines reach the poorest section of the society.

Talking about the government’s Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Mukherjee said: “Such initiatives will assure that pregnant women are well taken care of.”

“Under this scheme pregnant women on the ninth of every month will get fixed-day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care,” he added.