80% of Indians support tax on the wealthy in Budget: Survey
The survey is based on inputs from 3,231 Indians from 24 states ahead of the Union Budget 2022-23 on the expectations of common people from the government.
Published: 27th January 2022 07:33 PM | Last Updated: 27th January 2022 08:46 PM | A+A A-
Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the media. (Photo | EPS/Shekhar Yadav)
NEW DELHI: More than 80% of Indians support a tax on the rich and corporations who earned record profits during the pandemic, a nationwide survey by Fight Inequality Alliance India (FIA India) revealed on Thursday.
Over 90% of participants demanded budget measures to combat inequality such as universal social security, right to health, and expansion of budget to prevent gender-based violence, according to the survey by FIA India.
The survey is based on inputs from 3,231 Indians from 24 states ahead of the Union Budget 2022-23 on the expectations of common people from the government.
While the wealth of Indian billionaires has more than doubled during the Covid-19 pandemic, 46 million people are estimated to have fallen into extreme poverty in 2020, according to an Oxfam India report.
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This means the richest 98 billionaires own the same wealth as the bottom 40% of Indian society.
"While 84% want the government to place a 2% Covid surcharge on individuals earning more than Rs 2 crore per annum, 89.3% want the government to impose a temporary tax on companies making massive profits during the pandemic,” says the survey.
Anjela Taneja, lead, Fight Inequality Alliance India said, "The Union Budget 2022-23 can potentially provide several measures to fight inequality. The stark inequalities exacerbated by Covid-19 have started a global wave of protests to make the rich pay their fair share. The Government of India can listen to the people and make provisions for social security, health, and well-being through the budget."
