<b>S Mahendra Dev:</b> Social sector needs more than just allocations

The Budget has something for everyone in the list of nine categories announced by the Finance Minister. With demonetisation, consumption has declined particularly in the informal sector and in rural areas. One expects fiscal stimulus to raise consumption and investment. The measures on infrastructure will improve employment.
 
The allocation for agriculture and rural development is  Rs 1.87 lakh crore — an increase of 24 per cent. Higher allocations have been proposed for MGNREGA, PMGSY, Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna, Swachh Bharat, safe drinking water, and so on. For example, allocation to MGNREGA has been increased from  Rs 38,000 crore in