Chennai: Giving the Central budget a generous seven out of 10 marks, leading minds of Indian industry at a session on Monday said the overall budget presented by Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, had a positive outlook and would help urbanise more parts of the country.
Infrastructure push is quite positive along with the visible thrust on farming, rural development and bringing the Agricultural Produce Marketing Corporation (APMC) markets to an e-platform, they said.
At the session, organised by CII, B. Santhanam president and MD, Flat Glass - South Asia, Malaysia & Egypt, Saint-Gobain said,” The overall budget is positive and forward looking with more thrust on rural development, infrastructure and digital connectivity besides social sectors.” Welcoming the continuity of the MNREGA & Aadhaar schemes, he said “
The expected doubling of farmers’ income by 2020 is a good move and focus on development of roads and railways and the proposed new National Highway projects are commendable.”
However, C.K. Ranganathan, chairman and managing director, Cavinkare Private Limited, claimed that the budget allocation of Rs 35,984 crore for agriculture will indirectly fuel demand for FMCG and have a trickle-down effect.
He said, “Social sector schemes like cooking gas to rural women, crop insurance, interest subvention on agri loans and medical insurance to BPL families will go a long way in increasing the standard and comfort of living of rural people. Overall, subject to reading fine prints, the government seems to have taken steps in the right earnest towards balanced growth of rural and corporate
India.”
S.Mahalingam, chairman, CII National Committee on Sector Skill Councils, emphasised the importance of digital infrastructure (e-commerce) and Aadhaar and added that Aadhaar card will become a prominent vehicle in availing benefits under government schemes.
“Focus on skill development along with an additional one crore or 10 million people to be skilled is a realistic target.” Other panelists pointed out that overall the budget will have a positive impact on the Centre’s Make in India’s initiative and innovation.
