Letters to the Editor
Your cover story Wanted a Big-Bang Budget (March 3) was a fine analysis
of its various aspects. The UPA government has not only failed to
continue the India growth story, but has, indeed, brought the GDP growth
rate down to five per cent, the lowest in a decade.
Government's Failure
Your cover story Wanted a Big-Bang Budget (March 3) was a fine analysis of its various aspects. The UPA government has not only failed to continue the India growth story, but has, indeed, brought the GDP growth rate down to five per cent, the lowest in a decade. Why did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a noted economist, not do something about it? Will Finance Minister P. Chidambaram carry out the necessary corrections and bring about a boom with a single Budget? It will be interesting to watch how he balances controlling fiscal deficit with supporting subsidies on schemes like food security.
Jacob Sahayam, Thiruvananthapuram
Educative Discussion
The panel discussion on the Budget (Keep Your Expectations Low, March 3) was very educative. The government holds collective responsibility for the Budget proposals and it is unfair to flay any particular finance minister for them. Our tax proposals ought to be well thought out, clear and concise and should be continued for a few years without any major changes if we want to attract foreign capital. It is good to allow foreign law firms to operate here since a foreigner will feel comfortable with them (as Sarosh Zaiwalla notes in your People section). At the same time, instead of excessive dependence on foreign investment, we should increase the Indian contribution to India's growth. The finance minister has little control over debt servicing and subsidies. Though it has been claimed that the Food Security Bill will not increase subsidies much, one has to take that statement with a pinch of salt.
G. Venkataraman, Mumbai
More Competition Coming
The mobile services story (The World at Your Fingertips, March 3) has shown that things which were once considered distant possibilities, have become distinct possibilities in mobile telephony. The Telecom Commission's plan to allow Internet service-providers with broadband spectrum to offer voice services as well will lead to further competition in the mobile voice segment. However, the meagre number of mobile Internet users (around 80 million) is reason for disappointment. Through proactive policies, the government should ensure that all the communication services on advanced platforms are available to different segments of society.
B. Rajasekaran, Bangalore
Your cover story Wanted a Big-Bang Budget (March 3) was a fine analysis of its various aspects. The UPA government has not only failed to continue the India growth story, but has, indeed, brought the GDP growth rate down to five per cent, the lowest in a decade. Why did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a noted economist, not do something about it? Will Finance Minister P. Chidambaram carry out the necessary corrections and bring about a boom with a single Budget? It will be interesting to watch how he balances controlling fiscal deficit with supporting subsidies on schemes like food security.
Jacob Sahayam, Thiruvananthapuram
Educative Discussion
The panel discussion on the Budget (Keep Your Expectations Low, March 3) was very educative. The government holds collective responsibility for the Budget proposals and it is unfair to flay any particular finance minister for them. Our tax proposals ought to be well thought out, clear and concise and should be continued for a few years without any major changes if we want to attract foreign capital. It is good to allow foreign law firms to operate here since a foreigner will feel comfortable with them (as Sarosh Zaiwalla notes in your People section). At the same time, instead of excessive dependence on foreign investment, we should increase the Indian contribution to India's growth. The finance minister has little control over debt servicing and subsidies. Though it has been claimed that the Food Security Bill will not increase subsidies much, one has to take that statement with a pinch of salt.
G. Venkataraman, Mumbai
More Competition Coming
The mobile services story (The World at Your Fingertips, March 3) has shown that things which were once considered distant possibilities, have become distinct possibilities in mobile telephony. The Telecom Commission's plan to allow Internet service-providers with broadband spectrum to offer voice services as well will lead to further competition in the mobile voice segment. However, the meagre number of mobile Internet users (around 80 million) is reason for disappointment. Through proactive policies, the government should ensure that all the communication services on advanced platforms are available to different segments of society.
B. Rajasekaran, Bangalore
