The Hindu : Interim budget

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Interim budget

Sir, — Though the Central Government staff have been projected as the major beneficiaries of the interim budget, the existing income tax structure will not permit them to get much benefit. Salaried class people are the regular income tax payees in the country and if the Finance Minister really intends to make them happy, he should raise the income tax limit first.

K.P. Ashok Kumar,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Sir, — Jaswant Singh's announcement that 50 per cent dearness allowance would be merged with the basic pay for Central Government staff has cheered them. But at the same time, it is unfortunate that Mr. Singh has remained silent on the appointment of a Sixth Pay Commission. The expenditure announced by the Government on this score is exaggerated. The Commission is the first step towards achieving a new wage accord. As for the merger of DA, it is neither a boon nor a bonanza.

S. Raghavan,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — India's enormous wage bills have been a drain on the Government's resources. The Central Government's pension bill has grown exponentially in the past five years. States have burnt a bigger hole in their pockets as they have also been doling out generous pension in line with the Central Government to their retiring employees. While the massive financial obligation arising out of the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission is yet to die down, Mr. Singh's pre-election budget will have a disastrous effect on the Central and State Governments' finances.

Rajakannu C.P.,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Mr. Singh has tried his best to fulfil the demands of each and every sector, region, and different strata of society. He has doled out sops to the Central Government employees, the farmer, the poor, patients, small and medium entrepreneurs, etc. All measures have one goal — to help the Vajpayee Government win the next general election.

Akhil Kumar,
New Delhi

* * *

Sir, — The Government has submitted unrealistic railway and general votes-on-account keeping the elections in mind.

K.R. Reddy,
Mumbai

* * *

Sir, — The Government wants to capitalise on the `feel good' factor, unmindful of the deficit the sops will create.

R. Murali Kumar,
Chennai

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