Budget spoils senior citizens, middle, lower income group families’ mood

Amritsar, July 23

Sentiments of middle and lower income group families and senior citizens soured as contents of the Union Budget were announced in the Lower House of the Parliament today. They felt that their voices remained unheard in the financial announcements for the year ahead.

Senior citizens are highly disappointed with the Budget as there is no announcement for rebate on air and rail travel. Similarly, there is no income tax relief for super-senior citizens much to their disappointment. Anil Vinayak, a resident

One is disappointed at the approach of the government towards employment generation in particular. The fact that one in two educated youths are unemployed is really shocking. Gunbir Singh, President, Dilbir Foundation

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A senior citizen Anil Vinayak, a resident of Race Course Road, said senior citizens were highly disappointed with the Budget as there was no announcement for rebate on air and rail travel. Similarly, there was no personal income tax relief for super-senior citizens much to their disappointment, he said.

Though the Budget tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday focused on youth and women, locals felt that funds allocated for them were insufficient to cater to their huge population.

Gunbir Singh, president, Dilbir Foundation, said the Budget provided some relief to the middle class through income tax slab reviews. However, innovative ideas were missing from seventh Budget of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Gunbir Singh said, “One is disappointed at the approach of the government towards employment generation in particular. The fact that one in two educated youths are unemployable is shocking. Doles that include one month wages and low interest loans to new graduates will not resolve the unemployment issue. Only creation of jobs and an academic revamp would resolve the problem. This Budget definitely falls short on such concerns which have been ignored earlier too.”

Meanwhile, working women appreciated the budgetary announcement that the government would tie up with the industry to set up working women hostels as well as providing crèche facilities. Further, this industry-government partnership is also expected to launch women-specific skill programmes and promote market access to enterprises managed by women-led self-help groups (SHG). An allocation of over Rs 3 lakh crore in the Budget for the schemes benefitting women and girls has also been lauded.

Welcoming the Budget, former BJP MP Shwait Malik said, “The Budget has covered all sectors.” He said there was proposal to start a Bullet train between Amritsar and New Delhi. He further said senior citizens above 70 years would get Rs 5 lakh health insurance.