Focus of Budget on common man,says Congress

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) The Congress today hailed the General Budget for 2007-08, presented in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, saying it concentrated on the common man and hoped the the budgetary measures would help curb the inflationary trend.

"It is the first Budget of the next five year Plan period which has concentrated on the most vital, critical and vulnerable sections of the society," Congress Spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan said.

Mrs Natrajan told mediapersons here that the higher allocation of resources on education, health and other sectors would help the "aam admi(common man)".

In the present situation, the Finance Minister has done the best thing he could do, she added.

Mrs Natrajan welcomed the focus in the Budget on agriculture as it was the most important priority area in the development and in the focus of the Congress Party. She also welcomed the increased allocation in education and health, provision for scholarships and special provision for one lakh jobs for the physically challenged as also the funds earmarked for women development.

She hoped the steps taken would curb the inflationary trend and the price hike without impeding the growth. She also hoped the overall growth projected will be achieved.

Replying to a question, she denied the Budget had been prepared with an eye on the elections. The focus of the Budget was to achieve inclusive growth, she said.

UNI