Budget and my family…

Budget and my family

On 28th February 2011, I sat glued before my TV set, waiting for the goodies from FM’s bag. As a retired person of 62, I had hoped, he would bring down the age for senior citizen as per IT Act from 65 to 60. He did. I was happy. I had also hoped for increase in TDS limit for fixed deposits parked in banks from the present measly Rs.10,000/- to at least Rs.50,000/-. He didn’t. I was not happy. Thus, ultimately, he made me 50% happy. I also felt let down by the meat-less bone he threw at me-an aam aadmi or a common dog- by way of raising income tax exemption limit from Rs.1.60 lacs to Rs.1.80 lacs. Yet, I reconciled myself by saying that something was better than nothing. Seeing me smile, my IT savvy son said: “Pop, it’s all gas. Let the fizz settle down. See the fine print in the papers tomorrow morning.” 

On 1st March 2011, with Shakespearean “Beware of the ides of March” quote echoing in my mind, I glanced at the head lines. “Good on intent, short on delivery”, ”Balance between growth and prudence”, “FM’s head and heart both are in the right place”, “Tie between deficit and growth”, “High on promises, no remedies”, “Not a pocket friendly budget”, “Nothing khaas for the aam aadmi”. Each news-paper had a different head line but the story was the same. Picking up a magnifying glass, I patiently went through the fine print. This is what I found: 

“Sanitary napkins/diapers-excise duty reduced from 10% to 1% “

Well, these will become cheaper for the users. Unluckily, I am not a user so far! The elderly (80 plus) who have bladder control problems, can stock a few packs of diapers for their “rainy days” (read bed-wetting days), for may be, next year, the next FM may roll back ED again to 10%, if he has no users in this category in his home. One good point about napkins-even your maid servant Kantabai, can be educated now to switch over to hygienic options. 

“Branded jewellery – 1% ED added”.

I don’t know about Pranab da’s wife, but my better half loves branded jewellery. She brands me a not-so-romantic a person if I don’t buy a new branded pendant on our anniversary for her to pamper her penchant for such items. However, with gold  prices having gone up, 1% doesn’t matter enough to bring the craze down. 

“Branded garments- 10 % ED added”.

The garment manufacturers have since gone on a day’s strike but I feel he will not roll it back. FM perhaps doesn’t wear branded garments, so he seems to be jealous of those who wear them (natural human tendency). My son loves branded garments. I don’t, because one size doesn’t fit all. Invariably, a ready made trouser needs to be got altered at the seat or at the feet. Switching over to the good old friendly neighbour hood “tailor-masterji / darzi, would be a better strategy to save some bucks. Moreover, the darzi, makes garments as per your measurements (and earns a livelihood, too). 

“Hospital services will become expensive, specially the air-conditioned ones.”

Hospitals should now go for cheaper rooms with antique “coolie-pankhas” of those good old days, when a large sized fan made from palm tree leaves was hung from the ceiling and a person kept on pulling a string to work it to and fro. I am sure it will be a novelty for the new young generation. 

“Food-mixes, ketchups, R-T-E foods – 1 % ED added”.

These items are now branded as convenience foods, which have really made women’s lives easier. No cutting, chopping, grinding, mixing etc. If the duty loaded now makes them beyond your reach, try switching over to ancient methods of using mixers, mortar and pestle or grinding stone. I loved my late dad who was an expert at making tasty green chutney manually, using what was popularly then called “langri sota” – a must in all Punjabi homes. It was a good exercise too for my dad. Now, such ancient equipments are probably fit to be “museum pieces”. 

“Service-tax now to be levied on coaching classes.”

This is really a good revenue generating measure for the Government. With such centres mushrooming literally in every gully / mohalla, of our cities and towns, with hardly any consideration for quality education or faculty, I think only those centres will survive which are serious about their objectives. Coaching centre owners haven’t yet aired their views on this levy or downed their shutters for a day in protest, since in all probability, the poor students / their parents will have to pay higher fees to cover up the levy! Thankfully, at this age, I have no family members to attend such classes. By the way, at my age, I have to re-learn so many things in life and my wife and children give me free classes, so the FM’s move  doesn’t affect me! 

I will now take a break, with a brand of my favourite snack, whose name rhymes with Tit-Tat. I think the FM has spared such snacks from taxes, for the present. Having spent so much time with the magnifying glass, in this back breaking scrutiny of fine print, you will agree that break tau banta hai ! No ? Certainly !