New Delhi. The Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, while presenting the Union Budget 2010-11, in the Lok Sabha today, stated that for the Government, development of rural infrastructure remains a high priority area. For the year 2010-11, Rs.66,100 crore has been provided for rural development. For NREGA, the allocation has been stepped up to Rs. 40,100 crore and for Bharat Nirman to Rs. 48,000 crore for 2010-11.

The Finance Minister announced that unit cost under Indira Awas Yojana is being increased to Rs. 45,000 in plain areas and to Rs. 48,500 in the hilly areas. Allocation for this scheme is being increased to Rs. 10,000 core for the year 2010-11.

The Finance Minister announced that additional central assistance of Rs. 1,200 crore is being provided for drought mitigation in Bundelkhand region. He said that as a part of the strategy to bridge the infrastructure gap in backward districts of the country, the Backward Region Grant Fund has proved to be an effective instrument. It has been proposed to enhance the allocation to this fund by 26 per cent from Rs. 5,800 croe in 2009-10 to Rs.7,300 crore in 2010-11.

The Finance Minister announced that the Plan allocation for school education is being increased by 16 per cent from Rs. 26,800 crore in 2009-10 to Rs. 31,036 crore in 2010-11. In addition, States will have access to Rs. 3,675 crore for elementary education under the Thirteenth Finance Commission grants for 2010-11.

Shri Mukherjee announced that an Annual Health Survey to prepare the District Health Profile of all Districts shall be conducted in 2010-11.