AERIAL VIEW
The common man today is hurt badly due to the rising fuel prices, which have crossed 100-mark yet again.
The people were expecting some respite in the form of VAT reduction on fuel, which CM had assured media to look into after swearing-in. But the CM did not touch on that issue.
Even on three free LPG cylinders, only an announcement and Budgetary provision have been made, but there is no clarity on who is eligible to get them.
As per national TV channels, CM has told them that the scheme will be eligible based on income. So definitely, a person earning 30,000 to 40,000 will not qualify for the scheme.
Finally, it was a great gesture from you to acknowledge that the people are already overburned by the faulty policies of the BJP Government at the Centre.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
“Speaker Sir,
As I have presented the expenditure aspect for various demands, there is an equal need to focus on the revenue that the State augments from various sources. This year, I do not propose to levy any additional taxes on our Goans, but I will work thoroughly to get in more reforms in various revenue-generating departments. Over these years, I have realized that increasing revenue does not necessarily imply increasing the taxes but also plugging revenue leakages and undertaking reforms that will curtail the expenditure on redundant activities. This year without burdening my Goan brothers and sisters, I will bring in various reforms, rationalize the tax slabs on various components and undertake strict enforcement measures with which I expect to mobilize additional revenue to the State Government. The action on this will be visible in due course of time.”
This is what the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, said while concluding his Budget Speech.
Initially, it was a great respite to Goa’s Janata, which is already reeling under the effect of inflating prices of essentials like fuel, LPG and vegetables.
In fact, there is nothing for the common man in the Budget which has been presented in a hurry.
The GSIA and the Opposition did not seem wrong when they said that the CM should have just taken the Vote on Account as there was no time to take input from stakeholders.
What was the hurry, Mr Sawant? It seems like the CM wanted to impress his bosses in Delhi, saying that he could finalize the Budget even in a day or two. That’s it?
But in that bargain, Sawant forgot to understand the pulse of the people. He failed to understand what industries want? What do small businesses, housewives, students, fishermen, taxi operators, or other citizens want?
The common man today is hurt badly due to the rising fuel prices, which have crossed 100-mark yet again.
The people were expecting some respite in the form of VAT reduction on fuel, which CM had assured media to look into after swearing-in. But the CM did not touch on that issue.
Even on three free LPG cylinders, only an announcement and Budgetary provision have been made, but there is no clarity on who is eligible to get them.
As per national TV channels, CM has told them that the scheme will be eligible based on income. So definitely, a person earning 30,000 to 40,000 will not qualify for the scheme.
Finally, it was a great gesture from you to acknowledge that the people are already overburned by the faulty policies of the BJP Government at the Centre.
But what stopped you from increasing the excise duty on liquor, which is the lowest in India? We see unruly tourists getting drunk and creating scenes across the State; a little hike on liquor and passing on the benefit to fuel consumers would have really helped.
It was also a grand gesture from you to increase the budgetary provision for the Chief Minister Dev Darshan Yatra Scheme. But sir, today, the question is of survival due to rising prices and not Dev Darshan because people will surely get Dev Darshan free after starving to death in some time if inflation does not come down.
The VRS Scheme for the Government servants is a good move as that will reduce the burden of salaries on government coffers, but what was the need for life insurance? Every Govt employee today is earning at least 30 to 40k, and they get Income Tax benefits for life insurance. So there was no need for this largesse too.
The people, especially housewives, expected Griha Aadhar and DSSS pensions to increase, but the CM decided to look the other way.
So in all, if one looks at it, it may be bouquets of assurances, but in reality, it is full of “Empty Promises.”
