Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present her sixth and this government’s final budget ahead of the elections for the fiscal year 2024-25 on February 1.
Given the interim nature of the budget, all the sections of the society are looking forward to get something or the other.
The government has not reduced the prices of petrol and diesel this year even though the price of crude oil has seen a fall.
So, it is expected that the Finance Minister may reduce the prices of petrol and diesel which would help reduce transportation costs and prices of other essential commodities.
At the same time, middle-class families and taxpayers are expecting exciting interest and tax rebates from the Finance Minister.
“We expect the Finance Minister to slash the fuel prices,” said Atul Maharana, a consumer.
A Bhubaneswar resident, Soubhagya Deo said, “The budget should be prepared to keep the middle-class people in view. It should be such a budget that would encourage them to save something.”
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Since housewives are the ones who are bearing the brunt of high inflation, it is expected that the Finance Minister may announce some rebates on food and essential commodities to make them happier.
The senior citizens are also hopeful that the budget would have something for them like better medical facilities at lower prices, an increase in the Income Tax limit, and a reintroduction of concessions in travel fares.
“Since the Finance Minister is a woman, I would expect that her budget won’t cause trouble to middle-class people,” said Manasi Sahu, a housewife.
“We the senior citizens would like to see an increase in the Income Tax limit, new yojanas besides the Ayushman Yojana, and the reintroduction of concession facilities during travel,” said Baikunthanath Mohanty, a senior citizen.
Students have also a lot of expectations from the budget.
“Being an MBA student, I feel more investment in the education sector and an increase in the number of seats in institutions like IIMs would be more beneficial to students,” said Anmol, a student.
Echoing the same, another student Abinash Sahu said “What I expect from the government is that they should promote incubation centres at IIMs and IITs so that youths can start their own start-ups which would in turn create employment.”