THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET

From the common man point of view, I would rate the budget a fairly good one. The increase in the income tax slab exemption will in a way help manage the household budget against the raising prices of the essential and necessary commodities. Agricultural loans taken by small and marginal farmers from government banks have been fully waived, which is a welcome move, but what the finance minister has failed to understand is that the most likely cause of the miseries farmers face is due to borrowing from the private money lenders. The additional burden of 60,000 crores on the Government would be taken care, thanks to no change in corporate taxes, surcharges and raise in capital gain tax. The ethics involved in the loan repayment stands forgotten and it has resulted in a scenario “YOU BORROW AND WE WAIVE”. These two aspects indicate the budget ahs been prepared keeping in mind the elections next year.

The two foundations based on which the country leap frogs are education and health care. Copious funds have been allocated for these two sectors keeping in mind the millennium goals and what needs to be done is to monitor and ensure that funds are properly used. Women and child specific schemes have been given special importance. Essential base products in fertilizer (naptha) and drug manufacture (like anti HIV) have been given total relief. Efforts of the finance minister have to be lauded for providing tax exemptions to persons who pay medical premium for their parent/parents. At least to be cut off from the tax net, I assume the numbers in old-age homes will decline!! Prices of small and hybrid cars and two wheelers are bound to come down with cut in the excise duties which may encourage a lot of buyers therefore increasing productivity and hence development.

Information technology which was considered the growth rider earlier has not been given the tax holiday but its good sign that this privilege has been extended for establishment of hospitals in lesser developed areas and three star and four star hotels in regions housing UNESCO earmarked sites for a five year period starting 2008. This may in a way generate direct and indirect employment.

While the health ministry is advertising against smoking in any form, is the finance minister inviting people indirectly towards the usage of filtered cigarettes by increasing the excise duty of unfiltered cigarettes (which has higher consumption) on par with the former??

It is difficult to satisfy the expectations of everyone. The views on the budget may vary but for the common man, it was his budget.

LALU GOODY EXPRESS

I made sure that I was before the television to witness the live telecast of the Indian railway budget 2008-09. One difficulty watching it was when I was slowly accustoming myself to Lalu’s self derived English accent it was made really inaudible by the increasing decibels from the opposition side. Usual chaos remained. Amidst all this the union minister for railways remained unscathed and witty and continued with his prepared budget speech until the speaker adjourned the house. First things first, the minister and his team has to lauded for making the Indian Railways an organization of profit. In the wake of central elections next year it appears to me as a budget targeted at the aam-admi (common man), which I assume are well above his expectations. The fares have been considerably reduced even in the premium classes which did not find a place for long. Reduction in the fares of AC classes is primarily to stay in the race with low cost airlines. Given the choice I think people will prefer the skies as it saves time at the same cost. Concessions have been showered on women senior citizens, girl students and decorated service personnel. Number of garib raths and new routes has been increased. Social welfare schemes have been announced. Infrastructural developments that include building of green toilets, world class stations, phased execution of capacity augmentation etc have also been proposed .Porters have been promised promotion to gang men (group D) after screening procedures. Public private partnerships have been called for raising capitals for the developmental activities. Its own staff has been made happy by a number of goodness schemes.

Even though these features make it a populist budget I noticed a few areas which have been just touched only on surface or magnificently camouflaged in the name of benefits.

• The freight load estimates are planned to be increased. There was no mention of steps needed for improvement of tracks to carry the additional freight.

• Railway security just includes deployment of CCTVs, metal detectors, baggage screening systems etc which misses to fill the void. Permanent task forces have to be formed to combat terrorist attacks and handle emergencies.

• Concession to HIV patients, women senior citizens will not cost the railways dearly as you won’t find the affected advertising their illness or grannies packing their bags for the journey.

In all it appears that, it was a smooth ride for the “Lalu budget express”.

WHO TAUGHT THE ANTS TO FALL IN LINE??

“The roads there are spick and span”

“You can’t find garbage strewn anywhere in the public there”

“The airports there are at its international best”

“Bribe, that’s the word you will find only in the dictionary there”

These are ‘feels good’ certifications awarded by most of our fellow Indians who have travelled abroad or have been impressed by system there. They would in fact contribute in the best possible way in order to make the above statements true, at least to avoid being fined and get recognized as responsible Indian visitors. All this disappear in thin air when the same pair of feet lands on the Indian soil or the same rules are to be obeyed here in practice. Hey, what’s wrong in following being an Indian when in India?:)

So that lets us free in India to litter the streets with garbage, vandalize shops, disrupt law and order in the name of silent protests, vroom off before red goes green and use the public transport system without tickets and when caught bribe the official with loads, quicken and lubricate the efficiency and performance of concerned authorities with liquid cash (I hear, now even deliveries could be made before the full ten months!!) and still complain that the country has been fed to dogs and is absolute pits irrespective of we lacking self discipline and ethics. Who taught the ants to fall in line??

An easy way of escapism from this allegation which has been devised is to question the country about its credibility and what it has offered all long. Take a moment to think what we have done to expect a dear return. As you sow, so it reaps. Analogously here it applies to country as well. We grow with the country and the country grows with us-mutual symbiosis.

IS AMERICA THE NEW GREAT BRITAIN?

The most written columns on page one last week were massive job cuts and scaling down of salaries of employees of top IT companies in India. You name them and you will find them on the list. TCS, IBM, Infosys and the tails extends. Reason of sacking was given as depreciating American dollar against Indian rupee and the oscillatory nature of US economy. Experts say there has been a rupee appreciation of 14% which has slowly shifted businesses to new avenues like the Philippines etc.Worries are growing in export industries because the United States is India's largest trading partner. For example, most customers of India's information technology industry are American companies, and if their profits fall, the flourishing local software companies could suffer. Only the top order of the Indian IT circuit had opened publicly the numbers they have dropped from their rolls causing uproars with the industry insiders but still left in the dark are similar actions carried out by smaller and lesser known companies. And there are concerns that foreign investment into the country could decline if there is a slowdown. This can be attributed to over dependency of our IT and ITES machinery on business outsourced from the US. Even the run of the Indian bull is accelerated or retarded by the rise and fall of stocks overseas. America seems indirectly to be the new Great Britain ruling India and its economy. When the English left, the country was left in the lurch and analogous will be the situation when America slowly moves it outsourcing base from India. If the present state of affairs continues the Indian economy which has self proclaimed IT and ITES as its backbone may crumble to ashes from which the rising of the phoenix may never happen.

This can be tackled by bringing a balance in the growth areas. Planning should be done with a long term holistic and 360’ vision in order to bring stability. Agro industries could be brought to lime light by giving it a face lift. Investments could be made on new technologies that may help to increase production thereby indirectly bring a rise in revenue. What are we going to fill our tummies with for survival, without addressing the farmer’s needs and requirements?

A basement that is not strong enough may pull down at anytime a beautifully designed and well constructed building!

CONSTITUTION VIOLATED

The issue that is catching headlines today in India is the steps (violent indeed) taken by
MNS, headed by Raj Thackaray organizing movements favouring regionalism. Claims have been made by the concerned that it was in the interest of their state, Maharashtra and its people who are deprived of basic rights the state provides them. Defence for their action: protection of ‘their’ people from the invaders, north of state Maharashtra..

It all started when the world famous Bollywood superstar Amitabh Baachan donated his land for building a girls college in his native place in Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra proved to be the launch pad for the meteoric rise of Baachan. Abuses were thrown against Baachan, by the founder leader of MNS, Raj Thackeray for him starting such a noble initiative in his home state rather than on the lands which had the roots to his stardom. Baachan who has politically influential friends (from the Samajwadi party) from his own home state was protected from the verbal attacks by a fiery retaliation spearheaded by Jaya, Baachan’s wife. What followed was a blindfolded attack on the northern encroachers. Mumbai burned. Power and prowess was shown equally on both the sides.

Let’s leave the topic debating each others action. Apart from the people who bore the brunt of such an attack, the fundamental rights INDIA bestowed on its people were victimized. They are,

1.Freedom to move freely throughout the territory of India though reasonable restrictions can be imposed on this right in the interest of the general public, for example, restrictions may be imposed on movement and travelling, so as to control epidemics

2.Freedom to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India which is also subject to reasonable restrictions by the State in the interest of the general public or for the protection of the scheduled tribes because certain safeguards as are envisaged here seem to be justified to protect indigenous and tribal peoples from exploitation and coercion.

3. Freedom to equality.

Is this not a misdemeanor on the part of Raj and his party to have violated the provisions of the Indian Constitution?

If the same rule applies to investments or other growth activities from Non Resident Indians (NRIs), the development of India will only be region specific.

It’s time for each one of us as good citizens to bond cohesively so that even the thin air finds it difficult to breathe!!

DISCLAIMER:

I have expressed my view from a neutral stand and I do not owe inclination to any person or party mentioned.