There were varying opinions about the Union Budget here on Saturday.
Industries has hailed the budget, but farm groups have a mixed opinion about it.
Srikrishnarao Kodancha, president of the Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that it was a “good budget with a good intention. It will give a boost to growth rate in the long term.”
He added that income tax slabs could have been increased.
The increase in health insurance premium tax benefit from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 and for senior citizens to Rs. 30,000, abolition of the wealth tax and curbing the flow of black money were some of the positive aspects of the budget, he said.
Japti Satyanarayana Udupa, general secretary of the district unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha, said that except for giving importance to irrigation and crop loans, there was nothing for the farmers in the budget.
“The budget had fallen short of expectations of the farmers. Volatility of prices hit the farmers hard. But there is nothing in the budget for market stability,” he said.
