Window-dressing

The FM in his budget speech appears to have simply dressed up the President’s address at the session opening, with figures at appropriate places. The preponderance of intent over content was inevitable as the Government had to make an indirect appeal to the electorate on the threshold of elections to five State assemblies.

But more importantly, given the cataclysmic events unfolding from the White House, no one has a clue as to what land mines are being laid for economies around the globe. No brave budgets are possible withsuch uncertainties. That the the FM stayed away from tabling bad news was enough to pep up the market. That said, government borrowings have sharply dropped in the budget, raising questions about its investment road map.

R Narayanan

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

The budget has not addressed unemployment and farmers’ woes. The PM promised to create two crore jobs, but last year only about 1.5 lakh jobs were created. Farmers are desperate as their crop loss has not been compensated. The cash donation limit on political parties is meaningless as most of the donations are unaccounted for. However, the reduction in tax rates for individuals is welcome.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha, Kerala

Saying nothing

The economic survey tried to send the message that the Government intends providing incentives to those severely affected by demonetisation. It failed to reflect on issues such as unemployment, the crisis in agriculture and manufacturing, and the lack of impetus in infrastructural growth. Opposition parties allege that the Centre failed to utilise the benefits of a decrease in global crude oil prices. Though the survey projects a higher growth rate next year, it depends on factors such as developments in the US which may affect the IT sector, and the Brexit effect, as also the in monsoon.

TSN Rao

Bheemavaram, Andhra Pradesh

Prioritise healthcare

It is pathetic to note that our spending on healthcare is so poor. A precondition to development is a healthy workforce. Our leaders talk of increasing GDP, economic growth and development without stressing health. The Government should make allocations for clean toilets, a good sanitation system, and hospitals offering cheap or free medical services.

Medical education in India is extremely a costly affair. Hence to encourage students to take up medical education, good government medical colleges should come up. This will increase the number of doctors as the ratio of doctors to patients is very high in India. The Government should appoint experts to study the working of institutions such as Narayana Health (Hrudayalaya) and the pioneering work done by Dr Prakash Amte and Dr Abhay Bang in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. The Government should support doctors working with tribals and the poor.

Veena Shenoy

Thane, Maharashtra

Punish the miscreants

Universal Basic Income is being seen as a substitute for welfare schemes. The prerequisites for UBI are a Jan Dhan Account and an Aadhar number. The concept, based on direct cash transfers, is intended to ensure incomes to meet minimum basic needs. It also monitors the misuse of cash in the hands of those who would spend it on liquor instead of their families. That is why commodities were provided instead of cash. The thinking was right. But those in charge are supplying inferior quality foodgrain and other commodities. Those misusing the cash and providing poor quality food should be punished.

KV Seetharamaiah

Hassan, Karnataka

Regressive step

The introduction of a Bill by the Tamil Nadu government to exempt higher secondary students of the State from NEET and instead admit them in MBBS and BDS courses (in the State) based on their marks in twelfth standard, is unwelcome. Successive governments have ruined the education system in the State. About their language policy, the less said, the better.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, Tamil Nadu

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