The Hindu : New Delhi News : “Nothing in Budget for the common man”

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Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009
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New Delhi

“Nothing in Budget for the common man”

Staff Reporter

‘The budget presentation seemed more like a wrap-up of the Government’s achievements’
‘The Government has turned a blind eye to the ‘new’ urban poor’

NEW DELHI: The interim Union Budget for 2009-10 presented in Parliament on Monday has brought no sense of relief or surprise to the “aam aadmi” here in the Capital who has been trying to stay afloat battling financial recession and a shrinking job market.

“The interim budget has little to cheer about and is clearly brought in with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. There is practically nothing in it for the common man in the form of relief or buffer from the economic crisis. We also had no major expectations from an interim budget really as in principle the Government is not allowed to announce major policy decisions,” said Arun Kumar, a bank employee.

“The budget presentation seemed more like a wrap-up of the Government’s achievements during its term. There is nothing in it for the common man who is battling recession, the Government has turned a blind eye to the `new’ urban poor,” he added.

Stating that the budget had been on expected lines with “no big-bang policy decisions”, Dabur India vice-chairman Amit Burman said: “The Government has clearly announced its intent to shield the Indian economy from the global crisis, which is a welcome sign.”

Agriculture sector

“The Finance Minister has also provided relief for the farming sector and with measures including extension of interest subsidies to debt-hit farmers, an increase in Plan allocation for the agriculture sector and a three-fold jump in agriculture credit, the Government has continued with its focus on aam aadmi and rural development. These steps would further empower the rural consumer, who has been driving demand growth for everyday use products,” he added.

Maintaining that “this was a good budget and Constitutionally correct rather than being politically correct”, Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Prof. B. B. Bhattacharya said: “In principle, interim budgets are not meant to be populous budgets. However, in the past we have had experiences where this has happened but this time the Finance Minister has done a good job.”

Dr. K. K. Aggarwal, president of non-government organisation Heart Care Foundation of India, said: “There is nothing new for health in the budget and it is a disappointment that there are no major relief, no new prevention programmes. However, we welcome the Rs.12,070-crore allocation for the National Rural Health Mission which would go a long way in helping the rural population.”

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