Covid-19 pandemic-hit middle class families kept theireyes glued to their television screens as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanpresented the Budget 2021-22 on Monday morning, but many said that they hadexpected more from the government.
In this year's budget, the government has emphasized moreon healthcare, infrastructure and other sectors, while providing no particularrelief to middle class in terms of income tax exemption.
Besides this, taxpayers were definitely left disappointedas the Union Finance Minister did not announce any change in income tax slabsfor them in the much-awaited Union Budget announced during an undeniably toughyear.
Homemakers were not content with the announcements."Since my husband is the only earning member of the family, no relief onhis income tax will not only affect my kitchen, but also the education of mychildren," said Jalandhar-based Tina Mehta.
Another homemaker said that she did not like the budget."The government should have made things cheaper at these tough times.Ration and home appliances are getting costlier day by day," said KavitaSharma.
Another Ludhiana-based telecom expert said that thegovernment should have been given some kind of stimulus to the sector.
Harpreet Singh, a retired government officer, said:"There is no change in the income tax slab. No income tax return filingfor super senior citizens is, however, a big relief. This government's budgetwas never satisfactory since the time it came to power."
A recent graduate, who is now looking for job, said thatthe government has stretched itself quite a bit given the current situation."Fiscal prudence was not a very vital criterion right now and thegovernment could borrow to invest more in order to kick start the economy. Theeconomy needs more," said Inderpreet Kaur.
Another Manisha Shrivastava, who runs a BPO in Delhi,said that the budget did not help much. "This is a tough time and peopledo not have disposal income. The government should have taken intoconsideration the high premiums that are there in the insurance sector. Thebudget is good in some aspects but I think that it needed more."