Shimla, Feb 1 (PTI) Former Himachal Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday hailed the Union budget for 2023-24 as all-inclusive and focused on the welfare of deprived sections of the society.

Thakur called it the first budget of "Amrit Kaal" aimed at empowering and strengthening the poor, tribals, Dalits, backward classes, deprived and disabled sections of the society.

Also Read | Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Inaugurates Mukteshwar Temple, Says 'Leave Ego and Bow Down to God'.

The budget is dedicated to rural, agriculture, and infrastructural development, and the development of the whole country, he said.

Thakur said that the main agenda of the budget is employment generation, inclusive and green development, empowering the youth, and strengthening salaried persons and middle class, which has been given the "historic gift" of no tax up to the income of Rs 7 lakh, and reduction of the income tax slabs to Rs 5 lakh.

Also Read | Income Tax, Corporate Tax To Grow by 10.5% to Rs 18.23 Lakh Crore in Financial Year 2023-24, Says Government.

Creating digital libraries for children, appointing 38,800 teachers, higher allocations for housing, a National Hydrogen mission to promote green growth, raising the investment limit under senior citizen scheme to Rs 30 lakh, and 7.5 per cent interest to women on loans up to Rs 2 lakh, are laudable initiatives, he added.

State BJP chief Suresh Kashyap also welcomed the budget as growth-oriented.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)