Common man gets a treat, over 15 schemes

New Delhi: In keeping with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's "inclusive growth" mantra, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday announced a slew of schemes for the aam aadmi (common man).

The major welfare measures for announced in his Budget are:

• Allocation towards National Rural Employment Guarantee Act increased by Rs.39,100 crore
• Agriculture debt waiver extended by six months
• Outlay for national rural health mission increased by Rs.2,057 crore from the Rs.12,070 crore provided in the interim budget
• Allocation for Bharat Nirman scheme increased by 45 percent
• Rs 20,000 crore for rural housing
• Rural electrification scheme to get Rs.7,000 crore more
• Agriculture development fund increased from Rs.2.87 lakh crore to Rs.3.25 lakh crore
• Allocation for urban poor schemes to be raised to Rs.39,730 crore
• LNG infrastructure to be expanded
• National Housing Bank to get Rs.2,000 crore for rural housing funds
• Higher education outlay increased by Rs 2,000 crore over interim budget
• Income tax exemption limit for senior citizens increased by Rs.15,000, for women and others by 10,000 each
• Duties on life-saving drugs reduced
• Allocation for the minority affairs ministry raised to Rs.1,740 crore
• Banking services in under-banked areas to be increased, scheme allocated Rs.100 crore
• Rs 1,000 crore to accelerate irrigation projects
• Allocation for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission raised by 87 percent to Rs12,887 crore