The Lok Sabha has passed the Appropriation Bill, 2017 by voice authorising certain payments and appropriation from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for 2017-18. <br/><br/>The House also passed the outstanding Demands for Grants in respect of the Union Budget for 2017-18 rejecting all cut-motions moved by the Opposition members without discussion.<br/><br/>Earlier the House passed the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2016-17. Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal hit out at the opposition Congress for not addressing the plights of farmers during its rule at the Centre. <br/><br/>He said, in the Budget, the NDA government has accorded high priority to the growth of agriculture and rural development. He said, the government has provided 10 lakh crore rupees for farm credit and 3.46 lakh crore rupees for creating infrastructure in rural areas.<br/><br/> He said, Under MGNREGA, the government has earmarked over 48 thousand crore rupees which is more than the last year budget. Brushing aside the Opposition's allegation of fall in country's GDP due to demonetisation, Mr Meghwal said, the decision is in the interest of nation as it was the aspiration of the people to crack down on black money, corruption, fake currency and terror funding. He said, the move, in the long run will push GDP growth of the country. <br/><br/>He said, the demonetisation move will help remove economic and social inequality too. He said, under the Supplementary Demands, 3500 crore rupees will go to Price Stabilisation Fund for price control of essential commodities and 3292 crore rupees for pension to Defence Personnel under One Rank One Pension scheme.<br/><br/>Earlier,Initiating the debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2016-17, K C Venugopal of Congress criticised the government on the issue of demonetisation. He alleged, the decision of demonetisation has hit the Indian economy due to which the GDP has come down. <br/><br/><br/>Kirit Somaiya of BJP countered the allegation of Congress saying that the growth rate of the country has increased as it was reflected in the Economic Survey. <br/><br/>He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government has a vision of taking the country on the path of development. G Hari of AIADMK supported the government decision of merging Rail Budget with General Budget and abolishing the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure. <br/><br/><br/>He urged the government to release funds to the drought hit districts of Tamil Nadu. Saugata Roy of TMC supported the Supplementary Demands and justified the allocations for different departments. He, however criticised the government on demonetisation.<br/>

The Lok Sabha has passed the Appropriation Bill, 2017 by voice authorising certain payments and appropriation from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for 2017-18. <br/><br/>The House also passed the outstanding Demands for Grants in respect of the Union Budget for 2017-18 rejecting all cut-motions moved by the Opposition members without discussion.<br/><br/>Earlier the House passed the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2016-17. Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal hit out at the opposition Congress for not addressing the plights of farmers during its rule at the Centre. <br/><br/>He said, in the Budget, the NDA government has accorded high priority to the growth of agriculture and rural development. He said, the government has provided 10 lakh crore rupees for farm credit and 3.46 lakh crore rupees for creating infrastructure in rural areas.<br/><br/> He said, Under MGNREGA, the government has earmarked over 48 thousand crore rupees which is more than the last year budget. Brushing aside the Opposition's allegation of fall in country's GDP due to demonetisation, Mr Meghwal said, the decision is in the interest of nation as it was the aspiration of the people to crack down on black money, corruption, fake currency and terror funding. He said, the move, in the long run will push GDP growth of the country. <br/><br/>He said, the demonetisation move will help remove economic and social inequality too. He said, under the Supplementary Demands, 3500 crore rupees will go to Price Stabilisation Fund for price control of essential commodities and 3292 crore rupees for pension to Defence Personnel under One Rank One Pension scheme.<br/><br/>Earlier,Initiating the debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2016-17, K C Venugopal of Congress criticised the government on the issue of demonetisation. He alleged, the decision of demonetisation has hit the Indian economy due to which the GDP has come down. <br/><br/><br/>Kirit Somaiya of BJP countered the allegation of Congress saying that the growth rate of the country has increased as it was reflected in the Economic Survey. <br/><br/>He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government has a vision of taking the country on the path of development. G Hari of AIADMK supported the government decision of merging Rail Budget with General Budget and abolishing the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure. <br/><br/><br/>He urged the government to release funds to the drought hit districts of Tamil Nadu. Saugata Roy of TMC supported the Supplementary Demands and justified the allocations for different departments. He, however criticised the government on demonetisation.<br/>