Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today made a slew of announcements, including to bring investments in education and health segments under the infrastructure sector and special grants for women self-help groups and fishermen.

Replying to the discussion on the Budget for 2011-12 in Lok Sabha, Mukherjee said : "There is a need to further accelerate the creation of infrastructure in this (health and education) domain. I am happy to announce that henceforth capital stock in educational institutions and hospitals will be treated as infrastructure sub-sectors."

Mukherjee added that investment in education and health sectors possess high priority in the government's policy framework.

"Capital investment for these sub-sectors will be eligible for the Viability Gap Funding Scheme of the Ministry of Finance," he said, adding that detailed guidelines would soon be announced.