Hooda hails budget as 'growth-oriented'

Chandigarh, Feb 28 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today hailed the Union Budget for 2007-08 as growth-oriented and said it would benefit all sections of the society.

''It will especially benefit the weaker sections of the society, farmers, senior citizens and youth,'' he said in a statement here.

Mr Hooda observed that the budget had given high priority to social sector and to check inflation.

He appreciated the proposals to introduce an insurance scheme for senior citizens, provide one lakh jobs to physically challanged persons every year and provide loans on easy terms to weaker sections of the society and traders.

Mr Hooda said the decision to increase the allocation under Bharat Nirman Programme by 31.6 per cent in the year 2007-08 would give boost to infrastructure development.

He said that while giving priority to agriculture sector, the Finance Minister has aptly fixed a target of four per cent growth for the sector.

Another encouraging factor was the decision to increase irrigation potential over an additional area of 24 lakh hectares thus benefitting the farmers.

UNI