Page 178 - Social Issues
The only thing this government knows about jobs is 'Pakodanomics': Chidambaram
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday asked why there was no mention of the words education and jobs in the Interim Budget speech of Union Minister Piyush Goyal and said the only thing the NDA government knows about jobs is 'Pakodanomics'.He said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has "cheated the children and youth" of the country and the people would not be "easily fooled" by 'jumlas'."Two words were missing in this Budget speech - education and jobs. In the 10-point vision document there is nothing about education. Apparently, no one in this government has read the ASER report. Also, there is nothing about jobs because if they say anything about jobs, the young people of this country will dismiss it as 'Pakodanomics'. The only thing this government know about jobs is 'Pakodanomics'," Chidambaram told media here.According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2018 report, released earlier this month, while there have been small improvements, the ...
Budget shows govt's dedication to aspirations of poor, youth, farmers: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Friday hailed the interim budget for "benefiting" all sections of the society and asserting that it has underscored the Modi government's dedication to the aspirations of the country's youth, farmers and the poor. The budget touches everybody, will spur growth and generate employment, he told reporters and also praised the government for "maintaining" fiscal discipline. "This budget gives relief to every section of society in some way," he said, referring to its announcements and schemes for farmers, unorganised sector workers and income tax payers. With its sops for farmers and the middle class- two crucial voting blocs- among others, the BJP believes that the budget will it woo them ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The perceived farm crisis is said to be a key reason for the saffron party's defeat in the state elections where it also suffered reverses in urban centres. Shah dubbed the raising of income tax exemption to Rs 5 lakh as "historic", saying the Modi
Bedi hails union budget as "very inclusive and comprehensive"
Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi Friday hailed the union budget for 2019-20 as "very inclusive and comprehensive". There was also "transparency in transactions" in the budget which "covers all sections of society," she said in a message to media here. Bedi also pointed out that "the ball is now in the court of administration to deliver the schemes announced." She also claimed that the budget "takes the country forward.
Maha CM hails Budget, Oppn calls it mere 'jumla' & 'lollipop'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday welcomed the "pro-poor, pro-farmer and pro-common man" interim Union Budget 2019-20, which the Opposition denounced as a mere "gimmick" ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress dubbed the budget as the BJP's "jumlebaz (filled with gimmicks) manifesto" for the polls, while the NCP termed it as a "lollipop". Attacking the government for not announcing farm loan waiver, the opposition parties alleged that since it had not offered anything to the people in its previous budgets, it has now made populist announcements to assuage prevailing dissent among the public. Reaching out to a large electorate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the government Friday announced a cash dole for small farmers, a mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector and doubled the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said Rs 6,000 per year cash support will be given to small and marginal farmers. He also ...
Working on digital IT refund generation in 24hrs: Piyush Goyal
Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the Centre is working on a method to ensure digital generation of income tax refund within 24 hours from the time of filing for returns.Addressing a press conference post the presentation of the interim Budget in Parliament, Goyal said 99.54 per cent tax returns were processed without scrutiny, which, he said, was a historic feat in itself."Acceptance of more than 99 per cent tax returns without scrutiny is a historic development. The government is working towards the whole nation walking on the path of honesty. Under the new system being developed, income tax assessment will be done in 24 hours," he said.Goyal continued: "This decision was announced now since we could not have afforded to wait for the main budget, as taxes would have otherwise been deducted at source."With regard to the agriculture sector, the Finance Minister said the announcement of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi will benefit nearly 12 crore marginal ...
Interim Budget beneficial for every one, says Ramdev
Yog guru Ramdev on Friday said the Interim Budget was "beneficial" for every section and since it was an election year it would be termed a "political budget"."The government by giving income tax exemption till income of Rs five lakh has done a noble cause. This budget was for farmers, poor people, and the middle class and for cows as well. This budget is beneficial for everyone. It is a favourable budget for the middle-income people. As it is an election year, it would obviously be considered as a political budget," Ramdev told the media.Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in his Interim Budget raised the individual Income Tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh per annum and announced a major financial support scheme for farmers as well as a pension scheme for the unorganised sector as it presented a 'feel-good' interim Budget ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.Goyal announced a new scheme "Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)" to extend direct income support at the rate of Rs 6,000 per .
Allocation for MHA increased by over Rs 10,000 crore
The Union Government on Friday increased the MHA budget by Rs 10,477 crore for the financial year 2019-2020, with an aim to modernise its police forces, build infrastructure including borders. The Centre allocated a budget of Rs 1,03,927 crore to MHA. Last year, the Budget estimate for the MHA was Rs 93,450 crores.In a first, MHA was allocated budget over Rs one lakh crore. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the interim Budget 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha.As per the Revised Estimates for 2018-19, the MHA expenditure was pegged at Rs 99,034 crores.A sum of Rs 3,378 crores was allocated for modernisation of police forces while Rs 5,117 cr was allocated for police improving infrastructure.The government which has been stressing more on border management and developing the areas, allocated Rs 2000 crore and Rs 825 crore respectively for the separate projects.Moreover, Rs 809 crore was stipulated for Relief and Rehabilitation for migrants and repatriates, Rs 953 ...
Budget is 'jumla', fraud: Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Friday termed the interim budget presented by Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal as a "jumla" and "chalava" (fraud)). "The general budget presented today is totally an election budget and would prove to be jumla (hollow promise) and chalava," Nath said in a tweet. "Even all hopes of good days have ended with this last budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government," he said. The BJP-led Union government remembered farmers, the poor, labourers and the "gaumata" (cow) in the last budget, the chief minister said. The provisions made for farmers in the budget are like "Unt ke muh me jeera" (very little against the requirement), Nath said. The budget announced a cash dole for small farmers, a mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector and doubled the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh.
Yogi welcomes interim budget, Akhilesh calls it 'bundle of lies'
The interim budget presented by Union Minister Piyush Goyal in the Lok Sabha on Friday brought mixed reactions from political parties in Uttar Pradesh.
Tripura CM happy over hiked allocation for NE, MGNREGA
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday congratulated the Central government for increasing budget allocation for the North-East and MGNREGA and for providing income tax rebate.
It's a pro-people budget: RSS affiliates
Welcoming the budget for 2019-20, two affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said it was pro-people and a step towards ensuring universal basic income. "Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has enumerated many pro-workers measures already in place. Even though this is an interim budget, let the pro-worker vision form a part of the future road map for development," Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) national president Saji Narayanan said in a statement. Rs 3,000 monthly pension proposed for unorganised sector workers with a monthly income of below Rs 15,000, is also a welcome move, the BMS said. "TDS threshold on interests being enhanced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000 is highly beneficial to those especially in old age, who mainly depend on saving deposits," he said. The BMS also demanded that the income support of Rs 6,000 given to small and marginal farmers should also be extended to farm workers and landless labourers in the agriculture sector. Echoing similar sentiments, ...
'Professional political traders of votes' frustrated due to development: Naqvi
In a sharp attack on the opposition, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said "professional political traders of votes" are "frustrated" due to the atmosphere of development created by the Modi government Addressing the BJP Minority Morcha convention here, the Union Minority Affairs Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda is not influenced by vote bank politics, but commitment to inclusive growth. The Modi government has worked with commitment to empowerment without appeasement, and development with dignity, which has ensured the welfare of the people belonging to the minority communities, he said. The government has constructed a "highway of development" by removing the "speed breakers" posed by issues related to religion, region and caste. The decision to give 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to the people belonging to the general category is a "historic step" which will benefit the minorities also, he was quoted as ...
Budget "sarvasparshee", has rendered the opposition
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday hailed the interim Union Budget as "sarvasparshee" one that touched everybody, had something for all sections of the society. The senior BJP leader, who holds Finance portfolio in the Nitish Kumar government, also claimed that the budget was like a "surgical strike" on the opposition which has been "rendered speechless" by the Narendra Modi government ahead of the general elections. "The provision of Rs 6,000 assistance to farmers would be of particular benefit to a state like Bihar where the average size of land holdings is less than one hectare. There are also provisions for those involved in dairy farming and fisheries," Modi said here. "Raising the limit of taxable income from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per year will bring big relief to the salaried class. Hike in the lower limits for taxable income generated through rent and interests on deposits in banks and post offices will also benefit the middle class," he
Rajnath says 'historic' interim Budget will accelerate creation of 'New India'
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday termed the interim Budget "historic" and said it will accelerate the process of creating a 'New India' which is confident, self-reliant, developed and prosperous. Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, Singh said the tax exemption given to people with income up to Rs 5 lakh and another Rs 1.5 lakh in investments, totalling Rs 6.5 lakh, will have a major impact on the lives of middle class in general and salaried class in particular. "I congratulate the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for this historic interim Budget which is not only development-friendly, but also pays special attention to the middle class, farmers, workers in unorganised sector and the other vulnerable sections of our society," he said in a statement. "It also highlights the vision and way forward for making India a 10 trillion dollar economy by 2030," he added. The Union home minister said earlier, the governments used to give ...
Shah takes potshot at Congress' farm loan waiver, says govt's Kisan Samman Nidhi more lasting solution
Aiming a thinly-veiled jibe at the Congress over their farm-loan waivers, BJP president Amit Shah on Friday said that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi is a more long-term solution for farmers' plights and will play a big role in doubling their income."This move will prove to be very helpful for doubling farmer's income because it will also help those farmers who do not take loans. Bank loans are waived off just once, and it only helps those who take loans," said Shah while addressing the media here after Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the budget in the Lok Sabha today."There are crores of farmers who do not take loans, around 50 per cent, this scheme will help them as well. It will help them every year. I believe, this will support farmers for a long time," he added.The BJP president said that the budget will boost development in the country and has met the expectations of all farmers, labourers and middle class. While saying that welfare of cows is highlighted in
Interim Budget: Income Tax exemption raised to Rs 5 lakh, financial support scheme for farmers
The government on Friday raised individual Income Tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh per annum and announced a major financial support scheme for farmers as well as a pension scheme for the unorganised sector as it presented a 'feel-good' interim Budget ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.Finance Minister Piyush Goyal also talked about measures to provide relief to small traders.In his 105-minute speech, he spoke about a host of initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government since 2014 and enlisted 10 areas, particularly focusing on infrastructure and social development, to make a 'New India' by 2022.He said India is now the 6th largest growing economy and it will become a 5 trillion dollar economy in 5 years with aspiration of becoming 10 trillion dollar economy in 8 years.A foundation has been laid for sustained growth and better quality of life with an aim of making a 'New India' by 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th year of Independence.Among the major announcements, the interim
Citizenship Bill: Students' bodies condemn Prez remarks
Three major students' bodies of Manipur have strongly condemned President Ram Nath Kovind's remark that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 would help victims who suffered persecution to seek refugee in India. The President's remarks has caused widespread condemnation, particularly among the students' bodies, who have been camping in New Delhi to prevent the passing of the controversial Bill by the Rajya Sabha. All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), Manipur Students Federation (MSF) and Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) on Friday maintained they will intensify their agitation if the Bill is passed. The controversial Bill, passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the norm currently, even if they do not possess any document. Manjit Sarangthem, president of AMSU, said the students' bodies have submitted a ..
Budget empowers all sections of society: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the interim budget touches all sections of the society and includes everyone, asserting that it is a merely a "trailer" of what will guide India towards prosperity after the Lok Sabha polls. In his remarks after the interim budget was presented in Parliament, Modi said it empowers people and referred to a host of budgetary announcements and schemes to drive home his point. More than 12 crore farmers, three crore middle class families and 30-40 crore workers employed in unorganised sector will benefit from the budget, he said, adding that poverty has been falling at a record rate due to the efforts of his government. This budget will boost the efforts of 130 crore citizens in realising the goal of a new India, Modi said.
Interim Budget showers tax benefits to boost realty sector
A slew of measures to boost the real estate sector were proposed by the Centre on Friday which includes extending the exemption period for levy of tax on notional rent on unsold inventories to two years.
JNU prepares for 25% seat hike
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said on Friday that it will adopt the new reservation system as per government regulations and has submitted a detailed outline of its plan to increase seats for students and faculty positions to the Centre.
