Arun Jaitley’s budget was just like a game of T-20 cricket as he packed it with quickies to hand out personal tax relief and at the same time increased allocations for Dalits and the deprived sections to please them in the best way possible. It is indeed a budget balm for Bharat and no one can find fault. Financial advisors in various sector gave thumps up to budget and gave 8/10 marks for the good show of substance. Even share market had surged 500 points. The Finance Minister worked very hard to bring out a successful budget after the demonetisation efforts brought some setbacks. Thus care was taken to protect poor and instead of having a budget of robbing Peter to pay Paul we have a thoughtful one under the circumstances. There is of course relief for middle class and MSMEs and thrust was made for affordable housing. In all, benefits outweigh the shortcomings in the Budget 2017.
Jayanthy S. Maniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
