In FM home State, it’s party time

Finance Minister Jaswant Singh’s Poll Express headed home to Rajasthan as he presented his Interim Budget. With Delhi and Mumbai already selected for new convention centres and privatised airports, Jaswant added another name: Jaipur too will have a new convention centre and its airport will become an international one. A fresh lease of life has been given to the Indira Gandhi Canal project, carrying water to Rajasthan, with Jaswant promising more funds. He also announced that the Narmada Canal would be extended to Rajasthan and that the Finance Ministry would be working with the state government, now a BJP bastion, to provide funds. A task force will address sustainable livelihood means in the deserts. Self Help Groups, for which NABARD provides special concessional funds for small farmers, will be launched in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan will also house one of the six planned AIIMS-like institutes.