Union government, in its budget proposals presented today to the Parliament, has proposed “Protein revolution” through second green revolution, financial assistance for setting up drug and food labs and a programme to stop malnutrition.
In his budget speech, Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley said, “for the first time, the Central government will provide central assistance to strengthen the states’ Drug Regulatory and Food Regulatory Systems by creating new drug testing laboratories and strengthening the 31 existing state laboratories.”
While speaking about the agriculture growth, the minister said the government was committed to sustaining a growth of 4% in agriculture by bringing in technology driven second green revolution with focus on higher productivity. “The government will include “Protein revolution” as an area of major focus” in the second green revolution, he added.
Jaitley elaborated on the problem of malnutrition and stressed the need for an urgent national programme in Mission Mode to halt the deteriorating malnutrition situation, as the present interventions are not adequate. “A comprehensive strategy including detailed methodology, costing, time lines and monitorable targets will be put in place within six months,” he announced in the budget speech.
While dealing with the issue of health care, Jaitely said in keeping with the government’s focus on improving affordable healthcare and to augment the transfer of technology for better health care facilities in rural India, 15 modern rural health research centers will be set up in the states, which shall take up research on local health issues concerning rural population.