 "Union Budget 2025: Sitharaman lays out a vision for Healthy India")
In the Budget 2025-26, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid out a vision for Healthy India by proposing schemes for the promotion of healthy foods, such as vegetables, fruits, millets, and snacks like makhana.
In her Budget speech, Sitharaman also addressed the nutritional requirements of women and children and said allocation to Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programmes would be enhanced accordingly.
Proposing a Comprehensive Programme for Vegetables and Fruits, Sitharaman said that rising income is resulting in increased consumption of vegetables, fruits, and shree-anna (millets). While she did not specify the allocation, she said “appropriate” institutional mechanisms will be set up under the programme to support the production of healthier fruits and vegetables.
“A comprehensive programme to promote production, efficient supplies, processing, and remunerative prices for farmers will be launched in partnership with states. Appropriate institutional mechanisms for implementation and participation of farmer producer organisations and cooperatives will be set up,” said Sitharaman.
Similarly, without going into the specifics, Sitharaman highlighted that Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programmes provide nutritional support to more than 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant women and lactating mothers, and about 20 lakh adolescent girls across the country.
“The cost norms for the nutritional support will be enhanced appropriately,” said Sitharaman.
For food security, Sitharaman said that a second generation gene bank will be set up to provide conservation support to both public and private sectors for genetic resources.
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