Interim Union Budget 2009

The unfounded abuse of Opposition parties, especially the Left, is evident from their hollow comment about the Union interim budget. According to them the budget is more of a report card on the government in the last 5 years than any specific new proposal. If so the pros and cons of the budget is very much related to Opposition Left who were in the berth until recently. There are two points which are good for the people. The first is the attention given to school and higher education and second is the pay out for urban infrastructure. Yet another plus point is the enhance expenditure on rural employment program.
Nevertheless the Budget is a shock to the fixed income group, especially the retired pensioners. Though the Budget is keeping in lines with the radical changes aimed at uplifting the economy, it certainly lacks objectives. The industry is ailing because of a global recession and the Budget pleases no one. The Stock Market tumbled and there is no measure to control ever increasing gold price. It is only gold merchants who earn substantially even in the economic meltdown. It is true that there are certain provisions in the Union Budget that are likely to have a negative impact on Kerala’s growth but the Kerala’s Finance Miniter Thomas Isaac’s adverse comment on Union budget is unsubstantiated. As Union Minister Vayalar Ravi said “Isaac speaks volume but acts little”

K A Solaman