On February 29, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Union Budget for the year 2016-17. Last year’s Budget was seen as lack-lustre by many since the ruling party came to power on the promise of major reforms, and the announcement fell short of expectations. But it was argued then that the government did not have enough time to come out with comprehensive reforms since they were voted in only in 2014.
Will 2016 be the blockbuster Budget which everyone has been expecting from the Modi government? Will the government further liberalise the economy to unlock the country’s growth potential? Will there be efforts made towards controlling costs and reducing taxes? Will the government increase social sector spending?
We will know the answers by Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, we asked citizens cutting across demographics and professions as to what they expect from the government. Some of them belong to sections which are usually ignored in the media discourse on the Budget. Here’s the wish list of a single mother.
Name: Maria Monica
Age: 28
Occupation: Private sector employee
What she wants
I feel the pinch in school fees, and most of it goes to donation and infrastructure fees. I was fortunate to find a good school for my son close to my house. The fee is not high, but the money that is being taken as fee is nothing compared to what is taken in the name of donation. The donation amount is not tax-exempted, and it should be made so.
I hope the tax-rates are reduced for single parents. Especially when it comes to women, our salaries do not increase in the same rate at which prices of food, education and commodities increase. I hope the government announces an additional tax exemption for single mothers.