The Congress on Sunday questioned the Union Budget for 2018-19 by alleging that there is no outlay for the two big announcements,  health insurance scheme for 50 crore poor people and minimum support price (MSP) higher than the cost of production.

Speaking to reporters, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said Narendra Modi government while presenting the budget on Thursday announced ‘National Health Protection scheme’ which would provide cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 10 crore poor and vulnerable families, or about 50 crore beneficiaries.

The government had also announced fixing MSP at 150 per cent of the cost for all kharif crops this year. “They (government) say we will give MSP one-and-a half times the cost of production. This was in their election manifesto. Have they delivered on it? They just made a budgetary announcement without providing for it in the budget. Where is the outlay? There is hardly any provision.

“Similarly, the so called world’s biggest health care programme… we have been asking 10 crore of Indian families be given the cover of Rs 5 lakh. Even assuming that one tenth will need it, where will premium come from.

The Centre has announced ‘National Health Protection scheme’ which would provide cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 10 crore poor and vulnerable families, or about 50 crore beneficiaries.The government had also announced fixing minimum support price (MSP) at 150 per cent of the cost for all kharif crops this year.Sharma alleged, “They (government) say we will give MSP one-and-a half times the cost of production. This was in their election manifesto. Have they delivered on it? They just made a budgetary announcement without providing for it in the budget. Where is the outlay? There is hardly any provision.”

“Similarly, the so called world’s biggest health care programme… we have been asking 10 crore of Indian families be given the cover of Rs 5 lakh. Even assuming that one tenth will need it, where will premium come from. Where is the provision in the budget ? It is unimplementable,” the Congress leader said.