Today, exactly after a week on 01 March 2007, the people of India would be once again apprised with the myth of liberal budget of Government whose three previous budgets had already broken the backbone of all common citizens in the country. After the first budget in 2004, most of the Indian families and new mothers had reduced quantity of milk of infants to three fourth of a liter, after 2005 budget milk quantity reduced to half a liter, after 2006 Budgets it further reduced to quarters a liters per infant. What is going to happen next after 2007 budgets, God Knows! Whether a common woman would be able to buy milk over rupees 25 to 30 a liter at all? In what wisdom Mr Economics is levying new and new taxes and on whom. Truly speaking every penny of tax is being drained out from a common man’s blood and a salaried person’s saving. Ultimately a penny increased or decreased is further going to slay either salaried peoples or a common man of all classes. While analyzing the various retarding effects of budget on poor Indians, I firmly believe that low, very low and meager daily wagers society is going to be highly criminalized. If in three years of sky rocking prices have nearly raised crime graph to 25%, than what is going to happen if spiraling prices do not come down? There is a need to form a few core groups to identify and address the problems at grass root level. Various factors affecting common people life are being discussed.
First of all, let me analyze whether the present Government had failed in addressing the basic problems of common man? I say yes and every reader would agree with my assertions. Why the government had failed because all three previous budgets were prepared with an aim to give boost to metal over grains; and the common man eats grain and not metal. What relief a common had got from the growth rate of 6.25% in Indian economy. Infact outsider investors sarcophagi are being filled; and general Indian citizen’s pockets are accosted and emptied. All the three budgets have increased all basic commodities price index beyond the reach of a common man. The rise in prices varied from two to ten times. Wheat flour costing approximately rupees 6 to 8 in 2004 is today costing nearly rupees 22 to 25. Milk which was costing rupees 10 to 12 per liter in 2004 is costing rupees 22 to 25 now a day. In addition to rise in prices every, increase in tax base, has directly buried middle, lower and common man including daily wagers. Has not our Government failed in controlling the minimum prices of basic essential commodities required to survive?
Secondly, all of you would be amazed to know that this apparent growth is only planned and limited to just 11% percent of people of the country. The information technology sectors, multinational amalgamations, and computer sectors have been basic beneficiary of these policies. The riches have become rich; and the poor, the poorest. The blatant acquisition of hundred acres of prime agricultural land for Industrial sector has nearly not only crippled the common farmers of that area but also had ruined the agro industry in the country. The neglect of agro farming sector is setting the chain of migration Once again, the so called growth rate has really retarded over 82% common people’s growth and pushed 3.25% unemployed youths toward criminalization as per my survey of newly conducted crimes in the area. In the current financial year 2007 had given a common man what relief? I solicit my readers’ forbearance in understanding the pro-rata financial hardship imposed on every Indian family. The western countries leaning economic leap have, by and large, hit every common man’s stomach very hard. How Mr PM-PC duos have been able to crush every common man under heavy weight of taxes is worth debating. How can a common man today buy rupees 150 per kilogram an apple? I hope that the apple fruit is not confined in the syllabus of nursery rhymes only because it has already reached out of even middle income group citizens reach.
Thirdly, the most suffered segment of all previous budgets in India is the man in streets and salaried worker. The street man could not earn beyond what is offered; and the salaried communities due to fixed to pay-scales. Infact the businessmen lived to glory because. The country’s business community have been benefited by; one, service tax, education cess, and various other taxes have been directly passed on to the consumers; two, value added tax is again charged from consumers; three entertainment taxes also reached common man’s pocket; and four, other service charges on any service have again been directly collected from common man. The common man continue to be victimized for all taxes on one side, the businessman continue to get various rebates, refunds and relaxations on perceived publicity material and increased share of profit from business. If the current trend of budget continued for another two to three years, let me assure you that the government India will not succeed in eradicating poverty but surely eliminate maximum common poor men.
Fourthly, the lackadaisical attitude of budget planners toward agro sector has resulted in large number of farmers either reducing cultivated land area or stopping the cultivation of large cultivated land mass altogether. My study carried out in entire Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan had revealed that nearly 25% to 40% of land holding of farmers was not cultivated. It was not because they lack will but due to; one, high seed, fertilizer and pesticide costs; two, sudden rise in cost of agro related machineries; three low purchase price set by government; four, high cost of transportation, labor and workers; fifth, fear of damage of crop near harvesting due to rains and natural calamities; and, sixth assured income from works than uncertain crop produce due to rain and nature. In addition, lack of irrigation water supply, bad electricity supply and heavy taxes on various products used to enhance agro produce.
Fifthly I believe that the village land mass of our country is the tilth for her citizens. What they sow, same they reap, but Indian leaders want to sow ore and reap food grain, which is impossible. If our present planner were able to properly invest 7.5% to 10% in agro sector then our country would be able to feed the populace of half of the Eurasia. Why our farmers are neglected?
Sixthly on one side government immediately import food grains to assure regular supply but on other never encouraged own farmers to grow more. In September/October 2006, Maharashtrian farmers were forced to throw onion in to ponds, lakes and sea because government did not give enough price; but two months later same government imported hundred of tons of grains. The poor farmers around Nasik belt are still committing suicides to overcome bad debt period. How could a farmer who invested rupees three to five to grow a kilogram of onion could sell ten to fifty paisa per kilogram. It is a matter of grave disrespect for of Indian farmers and our leaders, who abetted their suicides be tried. Infact, country’s agricultural minister should be tried for homicide of farmers in Maharashtra by nonetheless Honorable Supreme Court herself. Is this the budget Mr Economic going to force up on us?
Seventhly I would discuss the empty slogans of “Shining India” and “Growing India”. India had neither shined nor grown for a common man; rather, his condition had gone from bad to worse. While to publicize Shining India theme government had invested Crores of rupees in placing hoarding all over the country side but did nothing to alleviate farmers’ problem of electricity, water and fertilizer needs, and to make India grow, the Growing India slogan had resulted in growing rich people and none else. The growing price index had disturbed common man’s budgets. It is a well conceived conspiracy of a few people at the helm of affairs to make India economic slave in long run. While our leadership is following the Industry based model of development of West but they have totally forgotten that Western countries have not neglected their agro sectors. Infact I we follow the Som Spiraling Rural Economy Concept (SSREC) the country will have all round growth.
At last, while I would analyze the actual impact on farmers and common of the current government approach, I hope the readers would be able to find out solace in planning their family budget with 59% of income going into taxes, added 23% going into service taxes, surcharges and so on and balance 28% to survive. The every common man today lives between 25 to 28 paisa of his earning and a businessman spend 55% to 62% on personal survival. The death of a street man does move Indian leaders because our governments are elected only on 3% to 5% of margin out of 35% to 65% balloted votes. Why should citizens pay taxes created by government when he is already paying income tax and all these services are created out of that tax? Why double taxation on every citizen of India. When all the services are created out of citizens paid tax, then why service tax at all. Every month I blood out rupees 1700 to 2000 only for service tax and surcharges. I solicit your cooperation and hope Indian Economic think tank would realize the impact of Metal Economy Concept (MEC) over the Stomach Economy Concept (SEC) type of development. Ultimately, we Indian find a failed government in each sphere of activities for a common man. Jai Hind.
