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Actors, a moviemaker and an activist bust some budget myths
RAIMA SEN
actress
Do you watch the budget? If yes, why. If not, what/who could make you watch it? No. I don’t watch it. But I do read about it in the newspapers. There’s just one person in my life who could make me watch the budget and that’s my dad (Bharat Dev Varma)! He takes care of everything.
Does it affect your life? Of course it does. I think it affects everyone’s lives. Being a part of the film industry, it affects us the most because we are the highest taxpayers!
Do you think you should be taxed more so that the poor can be helped? No. Why? I already pay a lot of tax! I think everybody should pay their taxes. That is very important. There should be more jobs and everybody should be employed so that everyone pays their taxes. Abroad, even the housekeepers pay taxes!
Are there any causes close to your heart that you want addressed? I think petrol prices should go down. Also, the entertainment tax should be less.
And that haven’t been addressed? I was expecting a cut in the gold prices!
JUHI CHAWLA
actress
Do you watch the budget? If yes, why? If not, what/who could make you watch it?
I have ended up listening to the budget!!! Thanks to you!!!
Does it affect your life?
Just heard… 10 per cent surcharge on those with taxable income above Rs 1 crore.... Hmmm... did you ask if the budget affects me...Yes...Now it does.… Lightens my pocket!!!
Do you think you should be taxed more so that the poor can be helped?
No response.
Are there any causes close to your heart that you want addressed?
I am concerned about women and youth. I hope the government seriously puts the Nirbhaya fund to good use!!! The benefit must reach the woman at the end. Am happy and impressed with his (the finance minister’s) announcement of a bank of the women, for the women, by the women. Also liked his encouragement on imparting vocational training to youths. This will lead to an increase of skilled young people.
And that haven’t been addressed?
No response.
AJAY DEVGN
Actor
Do you watch the budget? If yes, why. If not, what/who could make you watch it?
Yes, I do watch the budget. Not always able to do it live, but always watch the salient features and analysis. Mainly to understand the trends of government policies and business opportunities.
Does it affect your life?
Of course it affects my life. Apart from the various tax implications on my profession as an actor, since I am also a producer, it also affects the cost of production and returns.
Do you think you should be taxed more so that the poor can be helped?
I have no problem in being taxed more if better infrastructure can be set up to give poor people opportunities to become empowered and sustainable. But I do not subscribe to the idea of my money going to feed a government’s populist schemes or being eaten up by subsidies.
Are there any causes close to your heart that you want addressed?
It seems there is a feeling among the policymakers that the film Industry is an affluent class. A very small percentage of successful actors and producers may fall in this category, but a large number of very skilled and hardworking behind-the-scenes technicians go through a tough working life and bleak future if they go out of work. Something must be done to secure a decent life for their old age in the form of insurance and retirement plans.
And that haven’t been addressed?
Not available.
SASWATA CHATTERJEE
Actor
Do you watch the budget? If yes, why. If not, what/who could make you watch it?
I don’t watch the budget, but I do read about it in the papers the next morning! What’s the point of following or watching it? I can’t change anything. I have to accept whatever is the government’s decision!
Does it affect your life?
Definitely. It affects everyone. From producers to actors, it affects everyone. After the budget, producers want to curtail the actor’s money while we try to increase our remuneration. Simple.
Do you think you should be taxed more so that the poor can be helped?
Yes! I think moneyed people should be taxed more. Black money thakar ekta limit thakey! Everyone should earn their money honestly and pay as much tax. That’s why I respect Mithun Chakraborty. All his money is white. If you pay your taxes
honestly, you will sleep in peace and there will be no worries at all. Remember you can only be powerful when you have white money.
Are there any causes close to your heart that you want addressed?
I think food prices should go down. Otherwise, Bengal is far cheaper than, say, Delhi or Mumbai where house rents are sky-rocketing. But there’s one thing which I want should be discussed at the budget and that is corruption inside the tax departments. That should definitely go down!
And that haven’t been addressed?
Eating out will be costlier, something I didn’t expect!
SUMAN MUKHOPADHYAY
film-maker
Do you watch the budget? If yes, why? If not, what/who could make you watch it?
I’m not a regular budget watcher because frankly I don’t understand it when it’s being telecast. However, I’m very interested in the budgetary issues so I prefer reading the analyses in the newspaper and listening to different perspectives from economists and experts to draw my own inference.
Does it affect your life?
On the surface, it doesn’t affect my lifestyle as such but at a deeper level it does make me think twice. I am concerned about how the country is moving forward, new trends, daily food pricing and how much money is going into defence, education, public health and so-called development. The way consumerism is promoted these days, we are always provoked to buy, but that again is ridden with contradictions. The budget gives me the sensibility to think a little before going into a restaurant, using the air-conditioner or making impulse buys.
Do you think you should be taxed more so that the poor can be helped?
Thirty per cent of the Indian population is classified as poor by our government so if the rest of the 70 per cent contributes a little more towards education, health and the development of the underprivileged, then it’s fair enough. It all depends on how the money is used. A lot of our tax money is drained because of corruption. There should also be compulsory taxation for big corporations so they can contribute towards real development. This will help both sides.
Are there any causes close to your heart that you want addressed?
Cultural issues. There are independent practitioners of culture from films,theatre, dance and music who depend on state funds. It is very important to have specific allocations to give them the right push. Cultural status is very important for the health of the nation. The department of culture is facing huge monetary cuts. Practitioners of culture can’t always seek out private sponsors or producers. And when these matters go to private sponsors, only a particular kind of culture gets promoted because it is dependent on the producer’s preferences. Profit-seeking sponsors will always promote the branding of culture that fetches money and exposure to media.
And that haven’t been addressed?
I found this year’s budget a bit populist, probably done keeping the elections in mind. I was a bit disappointed not to find anything related to the cultural department. I am not clear whether any cuts or allocations have been made in that regard or things are still the same.
RUCHIRA GUPTA
anti-trafficking crusader
Do you watch the budget? If yes, why? If not, what/who could make you watch it?
Yes, every year, even if I am travelling. I normally get together with friends and watch and comment on the budget.
Does it affect your life?
I work with people who earn less than Rs 50 a day — victims and survivors of sex trafficking and their children. I immediately try to assess how it will affect their lives, if the price of cooking fuel, vegetables, electricity, cell phones and transport will go up. I look at the indirect tax structure, which will affect their lives, in terms of a cumulative impact on daily goods and if it will cause inflation. And then I try to see how it will affect my own tax planning.
Do you think you should be taxed more so that the poor can be helped?
I think the rich benefit more from taxes than the poor. The rich get better roads, plumbing, security, phone services, higher education and even better airports! Sometimes, also bailouts for bankrupt companies like what has happened with Kingfisher Airlines. The poor are so far below the poverty line that they are beyond the reach of most government services paid out of taxes such as phones, housing, airlines, cars, higher education etc.
Are there any causes close to your heart that you want addressed?
The budget needs to address the lives of the last girl — the poorest of the poor, the most disenfranchised person who becomes prey to traffickers because she simply cannot survive with high prices and lack of choices. The budget should announce special schemes for the most disenfranchised girls, from low-caste, marginalised communities and red-light areas to get access to education and housing. This would prevent their trafficking. It is important for the government to increase budget allocations for poor girls and women, to increase spending on girls’ education, anganwadis (which provide food and child care to many working mothers), and independent low-cost housing. The government needs to walk the talk that it stands by the most marginalised girls in India by putting their money where their mouth is. I would love the government to have special budgetary allocations for caste communities suffering from inter-generational prostitution and capacity-building programmes for women in prostitution.
And that haven’t been addressed?
It was disappointing to see that there is no increased budgetary allocation for women and children affected by sex-trafficking though the CBI says 3 million women are trapped in prostitution and the NHRC says most of them are from marginalised and low-caste communities. When the government is trying to prevent rape, they must think about the prevention of rape among low-caste communities and identify tribes who are trafficked to our red-light areas. We urgently need schemes to help them access education, sustainable and dignified livelihood and legal protection.
Karisma Kapoor
actress
Do you watch the budget? If yes, why. If not, what/who could make you watch it?
Honestly, I don’t watch the entire coverage. A lot of it is beyond my grasp. But I do check the highlights to see if there’s anything that impacts my life, my work or society at large.
Does it affect your life?
It’s a national event, it affects everyone at some level and I am no exception.
Do you think you should be taxed more so that the poor can be helped?
I am already paying income tax and service tax (plus education cess on the service tax). I think you are referring to the discussions about a billionaire tax. I am not a billionaire so I don’t qualify.
Are there any causes close to your heart that you want addressed?
Teachers are nation builders and I would love it if teachers are paid handsomely. That way, the current teachers will get recognition and the profession will draw the best and the brightest.
And that haven’t been addressed?
The budget could definitely have done more for teachers and this will continue to be on my wish list. That apart, it’s really heartening that there is a budget allocation for the safety of women and this sends a signal that safety is a national priority. Also a bank by women, for women is a wonderful idea. I believe that women are instinctively better savers and a bank for women will make banking more accessible and approachable for women who are currently un-banked.
Compiled by Samyabrata Ray Goswami, Kushali Nag and Mohua Das
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