PM describes budget as 'pro-common man'

Manmohan said the Budget laid special stress on social sectors like healthcare, education and infrastructure.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday described the Union Budget as pro-common man.

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Manmohan said the Budget laid special stress on social sectors like healthcare, education and infrastructure.

"It is an excellent combination of the twin-imperatives of social justice and economic growth," he said commenting on the Budget presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

The Prime Minister said there was a lot that the Government needs to do in social sectors, which cannot be taken care of by the market forces. "We will use public finances in sectors like rural development, infrastructure and education," he added.

Asked about concerns that the funds allocated in the last Budget were not spent adequately, he said the "concern was justified," but since these were new initiatives, the money was not spent the way it was meant to be.

The Prime Minister said the Finance Minister had produced an "outstanding" Budget.

Noting that the country was on the "threshold of an unprecedented opportunity", Singh said that during the last three years the economy grew at 7.5 per cent.

The challenge is to ensure a growth of 8-10 per cent, he said, adding it could be achieved.