The Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday evoked mixed reactions from youth in the city. While some welcomed it, others expressed apprehension.
Vishwajeet Singh, studying B.Tech at GITAM (deemed to be university) said, “Asking students from international community to come and study here is a welcome step, but they (the government) also have to raise the quality of education and infrastructure.” Only two of our colleges are in the top 200 list globally, he added.
Bikers, understandably, are an unhappy lot. “Being a biker and a full-time musician, travelling around places is an important part of my life. The Re. 1 cess proposed by the FM will only add to our burden,” said Abhisha Christos.
Tobacco products
For Vaishali Dutt, the increase in prices of tobacco products is good news.
“The hike in the entire value chain of tobacco products from cigars to filtered/ non- filtered cigarettes and on pan masala items is a welcome decision. The government seem to have acted keeping public welfare in mind. However, it will deal a blow to the flourishing cigarette industry and traders are bound to suffer,” she said.
The budget has pepped up the mood among startups.
“I started my venture some time back and all I heard was angel tax looming over me. The FM’s decision to forgo this tax upon document submission will be a real push up for startups like mine,” said Ravi Teja, a budding entrepreneur.
But young women are not so happy: “Prices of cosmetics, pure gold or silver are already high and now this budget will undoubtedly leave a scar on every model’s career, as they are proposed to increase with gold rate taking a jump by 2.5%,” said G. Jyotsna, Miss Vizag (photogenic) 2017.
