The Hindu : National : Disappointing, says AIDWA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006

National

National

Disappointing, says AIDWA

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has expressed disappointment over the Union budget and said the Finance Minister had not moved much in the direction of fulfilling the promises of the National Common Minimum Programme.

As far as the vast majority of poor and working women were concerned, their expectations had been completely belied, a statement issued by AIDWA here on Tuesday said.

Most women in India worked in the agricultural sector and many of them were farmers. This sector as a whole had almost been ignored.

It was shocking that at a time when there was migration of millions of women to the cities in search of jobs, the outlay on working women's hostel had actually been cut, AIDWA pointed out.

Also, the expenditure on extending the Integrated Child Development Scheme was also very meagre and fell short of universalising it, the statement said.

"No relief to common man"

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions said that though there was no imposition of new taxes or hike in tax rates, there was no relief to common man either. The popular demand for relief from tax burden on welfare and housing facilities, in the name of perquisites, went unheeded, a statement said.

There has been no effort to augment the revenue of the Government by taxing the rich and affluent.

"Suggestions not accepted"

The All-India Trade Union Congress has described the budget as `disappointing.' None of the suggestions made by the trade unions had been accepted, it said.

There is no mention of the Social Security Bill for the unorganised sector workers who are the worst exploited.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail