A reality check on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s Budget numbers
From our online archive
REALITY CHECK: The Stats Ministry says “the scheme’s performance has been poor in at least 24 states. They could not achieve even 80% of their targets”. (Graphics: Vijesh C K)REALITY CHECK: PMAY funds houses for the poor. But 27 states lagged behind in meeting their targets. Bihar achieved 37% of its target and Chhattisgarh 4%. The PM’s home state Gujarat did 20%. (Graphics: Vijesh C K)REALITY CHECK: In his Budget, FM Jaitley laid out a 100% rural electrification target by May 2018. But the Stats Ministry says the scheme is disorganised in at least 14 states. Chhattisgarh achieved 32% of its electrification target last year and Karnataka 20%. (Graphics: Vijesh C K)REALITY CHECK: The mission promotes skill development and livelihood opportunities for rural people. But the Stats report says targets were missed in at least 22 states last year. Only 2 states--Tamil Nadu and Kerala-- achieve their targets. (Graphics: Vijesh C K)REALITY CHECK: FM Jaitley said in the Budget speech that safe drinking water would be provided to over 28,000 arsenic and fluoride-affected habitations in the next four years. The reality is different. Despite high allocation last year, West Bengal achieved only 3% of its target and Maharashtra merely 5%. (Graphics: Vijesh C K)REALITY CHECK: A report in Lancet saids, “Community centres have been built in rural areas but there has been an alarming decline in the number of trained staff and specialists, with vacancies of up to 80% in village services.” An NSSO report pointed out that more than 72% of the rural areas did not receive treatment in the government or community health centres. (Graphics: Vijesh C K)
