BENGALURU: The cut in income tax rates is good news, says Dr Nachiket Shankar. But, on the savings front, he would have liked tax exemptions in mutual funds and better interest rates on bank deposits. “Some incentives for the tourism sector would have helped us plan family vacations better,” he said.
Their other concern is healthcare. “It’s great to hear assurances on promoting generic drugs, but the increased outlay isn’t too different from earlier years. There is no mention about improving delivery of subsidised health services. There is nothing innovative as this budget too stays away from prevention and rehabilitative healthcare models,” Shankar and Niveditha said.
Is one to assume that rural health infrastructure will improve with making wellness centres out of the sub-centres, the healthcare professionals ask. “I think it is commendable to talk of reducing IMR and MMR. But I do not know how increasing the number of specialist doctors will translate into better healthcare services if primary care continues to be ignored,” Shankar said. As travellers, they feel attention to railway safety is a timely move.
The major letdowns? No boost for primary education and no increase in income tax for highest income group.
They give a thumbs-up to increase in allocation for welfare of women and children but feel that in agri sector, some incentives for non-traditional food crops like millets and funds for production and agro marketing cooperatives would have helped.