Farmer
Sudhanshu Kumar
Age: 50
Occupation: Progressive farmer who owns 26 acres. Grows wheat, maize, lentils, besides mango and litchi
Family: Wife, son
Place: Nayanagar, Samastipur, Bihar
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
Yes. The Congress-led government will make a desperate attempt to divert the attention of the people from issues like corruption and law and order by announcing sops.
What Chidambaram did: The finance minister has opted for fiscal prudence without doling out sops. But he has focused on the social sector, women, youth and the poor.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
The government will not end the subsidy on urea. Things like increase in minimum support price for different agricultural products should also be taken care of.
What Chidambaram did: The subsidy bill on fertiliser has been cut marginally to Rs 65,971.50 crore from Rs 65,974 crore in 2012-13. Agriculture credit target has been revised to Rs 7 lakh crore, up by Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
The common man is looking for some relief in income tax. The finance minister should also increase the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to households.
What Chidambaram did: Benefit of Rs 2,000 to individuals with taxable income up to Rs 5 lakh per annum. No change in LPG subsidy.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
No. The budget cannot address issues like corruption and security of the country. I don’t think a populist budget will help get votes.
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
No. Though allocation for welfare schemes has been increased, their beneficiaries tend to reward the local government as it is the state which implements schemes on the ground.
INDUSTRIALIST
Satyajit Kumar
Age: 42
Occupation:MD, Shakti Sudha Agro Ventures
Family: Wife, two sons
Place: Patna
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
Yes. This is probably the last full budget of the UPA government. The government will try to use it for giving doles to the people ahead of elections.
What Chidambaram did: The finance minister has avoided presenting an “election budget”. He has tried to encourage investments, rein in the fiscal deficit and resisted the temptation of doling out goodies before polls.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
The government should not tweak the tax structure too much. I expect introduction of a new tax code and the regime of goods and services tax.
What Chidambaram did: No change in tax slabs. No firm commitment on goods and services tax.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
Something special is required to check price rise. The supply side too needs to be strengthened.
What Chidambaram did: Huge outlay on rural development and infrastructure.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
Yes. If this budget takes care of the interest of the people in general and industry in particular, it would certainly affect the way I vote.
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
I don’t think so. There are no major sops for the middle class which is facing the brunt of inflation. The only hope for the UPA is the direct cash transfer scheme. If this is implemented, the poor would have money in their hands. This could help the UPA.
SMALL TRADER
Narendra Jain
Age: 42
Occupation: Grocery business
Family: Joint (13 members)
Place: Guwahati
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
Yes, I think this will be an election-oriented budget. I believe the UPA will try to make amends for its inability to stabilise the prices of essential commodities, be it grocery items, vegetables or fuel. The government will try to appease the aam aadmi ahead of the elections.
What Chidambaram did: Not a political budget though he has tried to reach out to the rural areas, women and the youth.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
As a trader, I expect a cut in the value-added tax (VAT) rate, as higher the rate the greater the burden on consumers. I will be happy if there is a reduction in excise duty.
What Chidambaram did: No change in peak rate of excise duty.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
The income tax exemption limit must be raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. For the salaried class, tax savings can mean higher disposable incomes. Besides, I want the cap on LPG cylinders raised from nine to 15. A four-member family requires at least one cylinder every month and for a joint family like ours, the requirement is even more.
What Chidambaram did: Benefit of Rs 2,000 to individuals with taxable income up to Rs 5 lakh.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
No, it will not. I will rely on my conscience while voting.
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
No, since nothing will become cheaper. From what I gather, this is a “feel-good” budget which is not enough to control prices.
ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADER
Nishikanta Mohapatra
Age: 38
Occupation:Social activist
Family: Joint family (13 members)
Place: Bhubaneswar
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
Yes. The sanctity of the budget is not there anymore. The government keeps increasing or reducing prices throughout the year just for short-term benefits. Now that the elections are not far away, this is yet another occasion for them to hoodwink the people.
What Chidambaram did: No special sops aimed at elections, but enough for all sections of society.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
I expect special provisions for the youth and the income tax exemption limit to be raised. I would appreciate if the government comes up with a separate youth budget.
What Chidambaram did: No change in tax exemption limits.
Rs 1,000 crore for skill development of the youth.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
I hope it will be a growth-oriented, inclusive budget aimed at long-term impact.
What Chidambaram did: Budget proposes increase in government spending to boost growth.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
No. Whatever the budget may be, this government has to go. Though it might influence public voting to some extent, I am sure the impact will be minimal. People don’t want to be taken for a ride anymore.
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
The budget is more or less like an account statement, devoid of any policy. Chidambaram has cleverly tried to present a poll budget by balancing different sectors. But UPA won’t benefit.
HOMEMAKER
Jyoti Chawla
Age: 41
Occupation: Homemaker
Family: Husband (wine shop owner), two children
Place: Ranchi
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
To an extent, yes. There are chances that the government will play safe, play the populist card to keep the electorate in a good mood.
What Chidambaram did: The finance minister has opted for
prudence over populism in his budget.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
Only a homemaker can understand the hassles of maintaining a kitchen. A skewered budget means a problem kitchen.
Petrol and gas prices have increased enormously, which have had a spiralling effect on everything, including groceries
What Chidambaram did: No immediate impact on prices of household items. Eating out though will be costlier.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
I think more emphasis should be laid on education and health, especially for children and women. This apart, we need to pump in funds for security within the state and on our borders.
What Chidambaram did: Allocation on child care under ICDS raised by 11.7 per cent to Rs 17,700 crore. Nirbhaya Fund created for safety and empowerment of women. Defence budget raised by 14 per cent to Rs 2,03,672 crore.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
Why just me, it will affect everyone. The budget decides the ballot, doesn’t it?
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
Prices of household items haven’t gone up but they are already high. I appreciate the allocation for women’s security, a bank for women and the focus on the youth. I think the UPA will gain.
PROFESSIONAL
Sweta Sehgal
Age: 27
Occupation: Brand manager, RoseValley Group of Companies
Family: Parents, younger brother
Place: Calcutta
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
It definitely will. After so many scams, the UPA is almost on the verge of losing the next election. The price hike last year has further angered the people.
What Chidambaram did: Budget doesn’t offer too many sops for the votebank, but has enhanced allocation for rural India.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
The economy should improve. The interests for home, car and education loans should be reduced. It is difficult to travel without a car and reducing interests on car loans is important.
What Chidambaram did: Additional tax deduction of Rs 1 lakh for first-time home buyers. SUVs and luxury cars to cost more.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
Our country is not poor. The government just fails to channel the funds. Prices of basic necessities should be reduced. LPG rates should be brought down. Getting home loans should become simpler.
What Chidambaram did: No change in cap on subsidised LPG cylinders. No immediate impact likely on prices.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
Yes. If they fail to impress the public, the decision for the next election will be nothing but obvious.
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
Not a very good budget. They have played it safe. The announcements on home loan and women’s empowerment are welcome. For the middle class there is nothing. They have not touched upon key issues such as prices of food and fuel.
PENSIONER
Abhaypada Chaudhuri
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired high school teacher
Family: Wife, 2 married daughters
Place: Dutta Para, Nadia, Bengal
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
No. The government has certain political compulsions, but it also has a role to play particularly in connection with economic reforms.
What Chidambaram did: The finance minister has tried to play a balancing role without being ostentatious.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
I want the finance minister to control the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities; increase the number of subsidised LPG cylinders, introduce a compulsory health insurance for pensioners and raise their tax exemption level to Rs 2.5 lakh.
What Chidambaram did: Not much for senior citizens except the minor relief of Rs 2,000 for those with taxable income up to Rs 5 lakh.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
I hope the minister will look into price rise. I want him to allocate sufficient funds for development of education and monitor utilisation. More schools and colleges in rural areas are needed so that students are not forced to travel for miles.
What Chidambaram did: Increased allocation for education.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
No. I have a definite political ideology. I will vote for the candidate who fits my ideology.
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
It is clearly an election budget. The finance minister has tried to maintain a balance between the rich and the poor. But I am impressed by the increased spending on education, rural development and agriculture.
STUDENT
Kartik Bhagat
Age: 21
Occupation: Final-year BTech student, KIIT University
Family: Nuclear family (four members)
Place: Bhubaneswar
a) Do you think this will be an election budget? Why?
Definitely. If the government has to take populist measures, it would like to incorporate them in the budget as the code of conduct at the time of elections would prevent it from making any such announcements.
What Chidambaram did: He has surprised many by not presenting a budget aimed at elections.
b) What do you expect for yourself in the budget?
Everything that all youngsters expect — travelling and gadgets made less expensive. As a student, I would want education to become less costly.
What Chidambaram did: Mobile phones priced more than Rs 2,000 to become costlier. The allocation for education has increased by 17 per cent.
c) What do you want Chidambaram to do for others?
Since the country has a predominantly middle-class population, I would like him to keep prices in check, if possible, reduce them.
What Chidambaram did: Not much for the middle class by way of price reduction measures.
d) Will Chidambaram’s budget decisions affect the way you vote?
Of course. This, being a pre-election budget, is certain to affect the voting choices of people.
e) Do you think the budget will help the UPA’s prospects in the next general elections?
The budget has come as bad news for youngsters as mobile phones and motorcycles will become more expensive. Even eating out will be costlier. As far as the youths are concerned, it is thumbs down to the UPA.
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