Opinion Budget blues

The fiscal deficit for 2014 has been set at 4.8 per cent,sending off alarm bells.

The Indian Express

March 1, 2013 10:53 PM IST First published on: Mar 1, 2013 at 10:53 PM IST

Budget blues

The finance minister appears to have attempted a dangerous balancing act with the budget (Budget 2013: Levy on property sale,total expenditure pegged at Rs 17L cr,IE,February 28). He sought to explain slowing growth rates by citing sluggish global growth. Food inflation remains a cause for worry. The fiscal deficit for 2014 has been set at 4.8 per cent,sending off alarm bells. The budget offers little reprieve for the middle and higher income groups,while the poor are not likely to benefit much either. The Union budget has failed to provide a blueprint for fiscal consolidation,or to provide tangible solutions to the problems of slowing growth,dwindling investment and the weakening of the rupee. Such problems require bold measures that will stem price rise,build investor confidence and enhance the purchasing power of the people.

C.K. Subramaniam

Mumbai

THE salaried class expected more from the FM in this budget. Considering the cost of living,they expected that the income tax limit ceiling would be increased,but it remains the same as last year. There is little mention of measures to curb inflation or to open up new avenues of employment for the youth. The principle of inclusive growth does not mean much in the absence of employment generation. For the poor,there is no relief from inflation. The surcharge on the very rich was long overdue. In all,it was a typical election-eve budget.

S. Ramachandran

Chennai

Working it out

THIS refers to the editorial Job well begun (IE,February 28). After the Delhi gangrape and the protests it generated,the government has moved remarkably fast to amend laws,even promulgating an ordinance to ensure greater justice for women subjected to sexual crimes. The law to protect women against sexual harassment in the workplace is a landmark one,especially because it includes the unorganised sector. Ever since the 1997 Visakha judgment highlighted the problem of harassment in the workplace,a law like this was called for. Parliament has finally responded. While there must be vigilance to prevent penalisation on false complaints,it should not deter genuine complainants.

Suren Abreu

Mumbai

A spin on it

THIS refers to The Chepauk spin by Mini Kapoor( IE,February 28). Indian cricket has always thrived on spin bowling. Traditionally,pitches in India have been prepared to suit the teams strength,spin bowling. India has also been served well by the inability of the opposition to judge slow spin. Times have changed,and pace bowlers have managed to steal some of the limelight from the spinners. But the likes of Harbhajan Singh and R. Ashwin still manage to delight cricket connoisseurs. On Indian grounds,our spinners are bound to continue the tradition of being match winners.

Ganapathi Bhat

Akola