‘Sarva Sparshi’ budget, says CM
“My conscience says I have done a good job. I have not burdened the common man with taxes. It is a ‘Sarva Sparshi’ Budget (one that touches everyone’s life),” said Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, while addressing the media after the Budget presentation. A relaxed Mr Gowda, flanked by law and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar and medical education minister A. Ramdas, thanked the people of the state and his party for supporting him. “I focused on four important aspects — financial development, inclusive growth which reaches out to all sections, good administration that offers speedy and quality citizen services and tax collection that could propel development. I was not hopeful we could pull off a Rs 1 lakh crore Budget. But all departments worked in tandem and made it possible,” he said.
Mr Gowda candidly shared the difficulties faced by him while preparing a ‘people-friendly’ Budget. “I chose to continue with schemes initiated by the BJP government over the last three years. The benefit of these schemes can reach the needy only when they are treated as five-year programmes. This decision made it stressful, as it requires matching allocation. Financial discipline was our top concern. As there is little scope to impose higher taxes with taxation reaching its peak, we hope to generate additional revenue from growth in economy and better tax administration rather than increase taxes,” added Gowda, allaying fears that an over ambitious Budget (that exceeds revenue collection) would create financial instability.
Post new comment