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Jyotiraditya Says That Key Areas Promised By Govt In CMP Will Not Be Compromised
By Rajesh Kumar, Section News
New Delhi, Jan. 22 : India's masses will be a crucial focus of the country's federal budget for 2005-2006, Finance Ninister P Chidambaran said today, after his prebudget meeting with ruling Congress lawmakers here.
Pre-budget consultations with various representations of economy, trade and industry and labour unions are a traditional practice in India. Debutant lawmake Jyotiraditya Scindia said the key areas promised by the government in its common minimum programme will not be compromised. "I think the five areas he outlined agriculture, education these are the areas of focus and asked for suggestions from various members on these areas. These delibrations have been going on and are presently also going on, so we gave our inputs on various sectors including employment." Chidambram is expected to woo India's massive and powerful rural and middle-class with a cautiously reformist financial plan but analysts say will find it extremely tough to hold promises of cutting poverty, creating jobs and spurring agricultural growth with his political compulsions, particularly pressure from the government's fiery Leftist allies. The budget, likely on February 28, would be Chidambaram's first full budget since the Congress party led coalition took office in May. In July, he presented a truncated budget for eight months to March, 2005. "We are all agreed on the six to seven programmes which hold the highest importance to our people, especially the common people of India. I have benefited from this exercise. I said when I will present the budget they will find that their views are adequately and substantially reflected in the budget," Chidamabaram told reporters. (Click on "Full Story" for more.)
Chidambram has also said that he would attempt to correct and simplify the "convoluted tax structures" in telecom, petroleum, manmade textiles and sugar industries.
Local reports say the budget is expected to strike a delicate balance between the need for higher social sector spending and the policy to reduce allocations to areas that have not been properly used. http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=63393
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