Budget Comments

Power(ful) emphasis  The finance minister has recognised the need for ensuring power capacity target of 78,577 mw as proposed in the 11th Five Year Plan and he has stressed speeding up of the bidding process for the five ultra-mega power projects.  The proposal to create a national fund for transmission and distribution (T&D) reform will improve the power sector. The poor state of T&D so far has been a drag on the sector. Huge investments are required to be made in T&D. One should watch out for the size of allocation for the T&D fund.

G V Krishna Reddy,
Chairman, GVK Power and Infrastructure

Budget with a human face  The Budget truly reflects the face of the people of India. The finance minister has not only given relief to the poverty-stricken and debt-ridden 4 crore farmers by announcing loan waiver, but he has also wisely invested in the education sector.  Chidambaram, through his Budget, yearns to provide good health to the people of India by significantly increasing funds allocation and introducing a mechanism to see that every rupee spent is better utilised.  With a reduction in the excise duty on pharmaceuticals and more funding for polio eradication, the national polio mission can be executed more effectively.  The finance minister has generously accepted a little more from our wish list. With a tax holiday for the next five years for setting up hospitals in tier II cities and rural India, healthcare services in the country will get a major boost with active participation from the private sector.

Habil Khorakiwala,
Chairman, Wockhardt

More than a people