Corporate friendly, little for aam aadmi, says Santosh Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 28

Former state women’s commission chairperson Dr Santosh Chauhan today said the Union Budget was corporate friendly as corporate tax had been reduced to 25 per cent. “It has nothing new for women, peasants and common people. The utilisation of funds has not been done in a proper manner, impacting the interests of poor and common people. The increase in service tax from 12.36 per cent to 14 per cent will put additional burden on people. However, inclusion of yoga under the charitable purposes category in the Income Tax Act is a political move. It will indirectly benefit Swami Ramdev, who is a supporter of the BJP,” she said.

Amita Ohri Basra, a schoolteacher at Kankhal in Haridwar, welcomed the Budget, terming it as pragmatic that refrained from making populist announcements. “The 100 per cent tax exemption for donations for the clean Ganga campaign is a welcome step. The Ganga in Haridwar too is getting polluted, and hence these funds will pave the way for maintaining its sanctity,” she said.

State Congress spokesperson Anshul Shri Kunj said Uttarakhand had been neglected in the first full budget of the BJP-led NDA government. Dolly Bisht, a student at BHEL school, said the younger generation had got no major relief in the Budget, as mobile phones, computers, eating at restaurants, multiplex tickets, gym and even parlour would become costly. However, the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the Nirbhaya Fund was a welcome step, she added.

Dr Sanjay Shah said the Budget had given emphasis on health and medical sectors. The tax exemption had been increased on health insurance premium from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. It provided a special relief for senior citizens, above 80 years, which is commendable.