Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the financial year FY23 on Tuesday.
Her major statement was that the “projection is based on the assumption that there will be no further debilitating pandemic related economic disruption.”
The economy is expected to expand 9.2 per cent in the fiscal year that ends in March, following a contraction of 7.3 per cent in the previous fiscal, she quoted.
Yet something of humane importance was also cited by her as she addressed mental health problems induced by the pandemic. She announced that for the same, the Central government will be launching a National Tele Mental Health Programme.
“The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages. To better access to quality mental health counselling and care services, a National Tele Mental Health program will be launched,” she said.
In the programme, a network of 23 tele medi mental health centres of excellence will be operated, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre. The International Institute of Information technology, Bengaluru (IIIT) will provide technical support.
The Indian Government has introduced several other programs like the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) and District Mental Health Program (DMHP). In the initial lockdown period, under the mandate of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, the three central mental health institutions, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), and Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) initiated a national helpline to provide support for mental health concerns arising out of COVID-19.
A study by KFF.org published in the month of February found out that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being due to the ongoing pandemic, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%).
Besides this, she informed that an open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem will be rolled out.
“It will consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity and universal access to health facilities,” the Finance Minister said.
This year, the government is also focused on empowering the youths, women and the poor sections in the country, adding that the government’s next target is to create 60 lakh jobs.