My Budget: Valmik Thapar

What is the best thing about this Budget?
There is nothing which is the best in this Budget. This Budget has lost an opportunity to be dynamic in terms of innovative reforms or even just simple individual tax exemptions. This is a status quo Budget with few risks and some tinkering around.

What is the worst thing about this Budget?
The worst part of this Budget is that there is not even a mention of either forests or our wild landscapes, which make up 20 per cent of our landmass. This is ignored and that to me is a shocking sign of how India is governed. We have no understanding in this country of how to keep our natural treasures safe through innovative financial allocation, etc.

Do you think this Budget will revive the economy? Or does it lack boldness?
Though there is some forward thinking on infrastructure it is not enough. Much more in this vital sector was required.

If you were the Finance Minister, what would you have done with the Budget?
I would have created a huge focus on health and education in rural areas. I would have much greater input into infrastructure. And, most important, I would have created a green NREGA to keep India’s forests and wilderness alive to sustain the quality of life of our people. Sadly, the vital connections between forests and water are mostly ignored by politicians and bureaucrats. When will they learn? Until they do, we will go on suffering from a lack of deep thinking and fiscal action.

Valmik Thapar, Natural historian and tiger conservationist