Union Budget 2022 address gets rare mention of mental health; tele-program to be launched

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the 2022 Union Budget at the Parliament on February 1. Photo/Pallav Paliwal

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of a National Tele Mental Health program, saying that Covid-19 pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages.

"The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages. To better the access to quality mental health counselling and care services, a National Tele Mental Health program will be launched," she said.

She added, "This will include a network of 23 tele mental health centres of excellence with Nimhans being the nodal centre and IIIT Bangalore providing technical support."

An open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem will be rolled out, Sitharaman said while presenting the budget in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

It will consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity, consent framework and universal access to health facilities, she added.

"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, consent framework and universal access to health facilities," she said.

The Finance Minister said the country's economic growth is expected at 9.2 per cent in the current financial year, the highest among all large economies. She also said that a virtuous cycle of investment is expected to revive on account of capex (capital expenditure) and crowd in private investment.

Sitharaman revealed that the government will promote chemical-free natural farming throughout the country along the river Ganga.

"Chemical-free natural farming will be promoted throughout the country with a focus on farmers' land in 5 km wide corridors along the river Ganga, in the first stage," she said.

Sitharaman on Tuesday began the presentation of the Union Budget 2022-23 by expressing empathy to those who died due to Covid-19.

"I want to take a moment to express my empathy for those who had to bear adverse health and economic effects of the pandemic," the Union Minister said while presenting her fourth Budget in the Parliament. Before the presentation, a Union Cabinet meeting was held which approved the Budget 2022-23.

Earlier today, Sitharaman met President Ram Nath Kovind ahead of the Budget presentation. She was accompanied by Ministers of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Bhagwat Karad and other officials from the Ministry.

The budget session of Parliament began on Monday with the address by President Ram Nath Kovind to both Houses in the Central Hall.

The first part of the Union Budget Session of Parliament will be held from January 31 to February 11 and the second part of the Budget Session will take place from March 14 to April 8.

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