Independent India's first ever humane budget: Wockhardt Chairman

Ahmedabad, Feb 29 (UNI) The Finance Minister P Chidambaram has presented independent India's first ever humane budget by not only waiving-off loans but also giving relief to poverty-stricken and debt-ridden four crore Indian farmers, according to Wockhardt Chairman Habil Khorakiwala.

''He has wisely invested in the education sector and he yearns to provide good health to the Country through a significant increase in fund allocation as well as introducing a mechanism to see that every rupee spent is slightly better utilised. With a reduction in the excise duty on pharmaceuticals and providing funds for the eradication of Polio, the need of the hour is better execution in the districts of UP and Bihar to eradicate polio'', Khorakiwala pointed out.

This year, the Finance Minister has very generously accepted a little more from our wish list. With tax holiday for the next five years for setting up hospitals in tier II cities and rural India, the improvement of healthcare services in the country will get a major boost with the active participation from the private sector.

Mr Chidambaram has been rightly biased towards women. Not only has he provided a larger income tax benefit but has truly allocated Rs 11,000 crore towards specific programmes for women employment.

This is a very unique budget that shows fiscal responsibility and gives the right impetus for manufacturing, research and development and also expands the scope of Public-Private-Partnership. Above all, it provides a huge relief to the distressed farmers and the middle-class Indian, simultaneously maintaining the economy's growth momentum and managing inflation, he added.

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