The Union Budget defied some expectations and kept some. The government claimed it was a budget focused on the poor, with higher spending on rural economy, infrastructure and poverty alleviation. Orissa POST tries to find out what people from different walks of life have to say about the budget.
Budget 2017 is a progressive budget as it aims at holistic development of the entire economy with 25.4 per cent higher capital expenditure slated for FY 2017-18. The infrastructure sector will get an investment of Rs3,96,135 crore and affordable housing will also get infrastructure status. The 3,500 kilometres of railway lines, 1 crore houses for poor by 2019, improved connectivity between cities, affordable house building schemes will all translate to robust economic development. At the same time, 24 per cent higher than previous year’s allocation towards rural, agriculture and allied sectors will strengthen rural India. The benefits announced for medium and small scale industries will also boost the manufacturing sector.
prakash kumar singh | chairman, sail
We are greatly satisfied and happy that the government has treated NABARD as a priority institution. We are primarily included in the development of agriculture in Budget 2017 and [we will work for] the welfare of farmers. A dedicated fund of Rs5,000 crore, to be set up for micro irrigation under NABARD, is highly commendable.
kc panigrahi | chief general manager, nabard, orissa
The government has provided huge relief to salaried employees in the Rs2.5 lakh to Rs5 lakh slab by reducing the rate of income tax for them from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. Many employees fall in this tax slab. Also, the government has given MSMEs a good push by reducing rate of tax on companies with turnover under Rs50 crore annually from 30 per cent to 25 per cent.
tadit dash | software engineer
This is a budget for the people. I am pleased with the government’s announcement that it will open skill development centres across the country. It is extremely essential for youngsters like me who are seeking employment. One other good thing about the budget is that the service charge on online booking of tickets on IRCTC has been removed.
pranaya | student
The thrust on structural reform to address quality and access to health and medical education, and the proposed increase in the number of PG seats, are both positive measures. The move to encourage private hospitals to offer super speciality DNB courses signals growth of opportunities for further private–public collaboration in health services and education leading to long-term positive impact on quality and availability of specialist doctors for secondary and tertiary care. Amendments in the rules for reducing costs of life-saving drugs are also positive. We will have to wait and see whether the reductions in duties will help reduce the cost of import of medical equipment.
sudhir m diggikar | ceo, apollo hospitals (orissa and chhattisgarh)
It is a normal budget with lots of hypothetical aspects far removed from reality. The government had lot of scope to reboot post demonetisation. But it has not addressed most lacunae and is focusing entirely on digital India. However, restricting individual donations by cash to political parties to Rs 2,000, the promotion of start-ups, abolition of service tax in IRCTC are very welcome measures. It is also good that they are going to abolish FIPB but I am not sure how much FDI will come to India when world economy is slowing.
piyush ranjan rout | urban planner and member, town planning committee
The budget is very positive and not politically motivated. Announcements such as tax relaxation and limit on donations in cash to political parties are very positive measures. I feel this government is planning things that will help in the long run.
asim ranjan prahi | lecturer, utkal university
The proposal to establish National Testing Service to hold all entrance exams will free bodies such as the CBSE to focus on improving academics. With the NTS conducting exams, there would be greater professionalism in the way tests are held and it would help students.
nirupama bidhar | schoolteacher
The announcement that completion of 200 years of the Paika rebellion will be celebrated nationwide is very encourging. It would give the rebellion, which was started in 1817 the recognition due to it.
pristish acharaya | historian
Overall, the budget is good and has something for everybody. The finance minister has focused on rural development, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation and controlling fiscal deficit. He has also declared steps to promote cashless economy in continuation of steps following demonetisation; it proves that the government is alert to the situation following demonetisation. I have doubts, though, about the government’s plans to double the income of farmers over the next five years as such things need elaborate planning.
himanshu rout | hod of economics, utkal university
This budget is pro-poor and pro-people as the government had focused on the growth of the farming sector by setting the agriculture credit target at a record Rs10 lakh crore. Also, the reduction of income tax on individuals in the Rs2.5 lakh to Rs5 lakh slab from 10 per cent to 5 per cent will boost incomes and support growth as the beneficiaries will be happy to pay the tax now. The proposal for a crude oil reservoir at Chandikhol is also a bright spot for Orissa.
alok ranjan behera | economist
The incentives the government has given to various sectors in this budget are praiseworthy; but the question now is how will all the declarations be implemented? I am happy with the steps to digitise transactions and the proposal to establish a national testing service to conduct all the entrance exams.
sriram singh rattan | college student
The government had taken some positive measures towards rural development and generation of employment. Steps such as the setting up of a corpus for safety of passengers on the railways; elimination of unmanned level crossings by 2020; dedicated tourism or pilgrimage trains; 500 differently-abled friendly railway stations and biotoilets on all coaches are welcome steps. Besides, the proposal to establish 100 international skill centres that would offer courses in foreign languages is a futuristic measure as it will help youth find better employment and will help building relations with other countries. Also the creation of more than 16,000 enterprises under the Stand-up India scheme will give youth an opportunity to start own enterprises.
alok kumar lal | entrepreneur
The Union government’s step to popularise Swachh Bharat Mission is positive. Under the mission, sanitation cover in rural areas has increased from 42 per cent in 2013 to 60 per cent now. Swachh Bharat Mission has brought major changes in the society. The government should start more such initiatives.
ananta narayan jena | mayor, bhubaneswar
