Budget has nothing for farmers, looks like a vision document

(By Kalvakuntla Kavitha, MP, Nizamabad in Telangana State)

New Delhi: A detailed study and analysis of the budget takes sometime. Because a lot of things sound and look good, when we take them at face value. We need to go to the fine print to find out or decide if they are really good. The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has presented a Budget which looks good on paper. A closer look at the budget tells us that not everything is a great idea. There are some good things, which are necessary and achievable. Not everything is doable. Even if the government does that, it won't help the public.

The Finance minister has hinted that the Centre is going to disinvest some Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). If the Centre disinvests loss making and sick PSUs beyond repair, we can understand that. But, if the government tries to privatize or partly privatize Navratna firms of the government; we will have to raise questions. Both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister have been repeatedly saying that the coal blocks allocation will get us several lakh crores. In that case, what is the hurry to privatize certain PSUs? Can't we revive some PSUs and infuse more cash into profit making industries for expansion and modernization? If the Centre privatizes the profit making PSUs, we will be forced to oppose it in the Parliament and even outside it.

The Modi government has been saying that 'we will do this, we will do that' for the past nine months. But, nothing much has happened on the ground. This budget has nothing for the farmers. There is nothing for them in it. It is very disappointing. Mere jugglery of words won't help.

It always happens that the election bound states get more money from the budget. It has happened in this budget too. May be because, Telangana has no election in another four years, we have not got anything substantial or big.

The Heritage site development could have included even Golconda fort in Hyderabad. It has not been included.

Launching 'Mudra Bank' to finance micro-financing institutions is a good idea. Hope, the Centre will effectively implement it. Separate funding for IT start-ups is another good idea. But, Rs.1000 crore is a small amount and it has to be increased.

The 'Nirbhaya' fund has Rs 2000 crore this time as the last year. But, what is the use? It is not being spent at all. Should not the government spend it on the purpose it is meant for?

I agree that the Budget is mostly pro-corporate and pro-rich. It has many things for them. The poor, marginalized and middle class people don't have much in the budget. The Modi government is still promising 'Achche Din'. Where is the 'Achche Din' for all or for everybody? We need to keep the overall interest of the society when we make the budget.

The Centre says it will implement Goods and Services Taxes (GST) from next year. In that case different taxation for service and excise makes no sense. Because under the GST, the taxation will be uniform in nature.

During the time of debate over the Budget, we hope to raise these issues in the Parliament. As they say 'Devil is in the detail'. Lets study that first.

(Kalvakuntla Kavitha is Opposition TRS MP from Nizamabad in Telangana State)