New Delhi: With Budget 2023 around the corner, citizens have their expectations in place given the rising inflation and unemployment. In a survey conducted across various states ahead of this year's parliamentary budget, people from various strata of society have pointed out what they expect and hope from this year's budget.
"Earlier, the monthly household budget used to be Rs 25,000 which used to cover all expenses. But now due to inflation, the monthly budget has gone up to Rs 50,000. We spend most on the education of children," a homemaker from Delhi said while speaking about her expectations from the budget.
"Being a college-going student, my only hope is that the prices of daily necessities should decline. We are even struggling to buy small things -- edible oil, gas, and spices. This price rise issue is for all middle-class sections of society. It becomes difficult for students who don't earn but have to meet their daily needs nevertheless," said Swagata Dey from Kolkata.
Raising the same concern, a homemaker from Kolkata, Moula Dey said, "Prices of every item should fall to some extent, especially the cooking gas. It is getting difficult to run a family. Any decline in prices will make our home budget stable." She further added that the kitchen budget affects the entire household budget, while other things like education and dairy product prices have spiked and need to be lowered.
Anita Redekar, a canteen worker and a homemaker from Mumbai, also backed the women's demands. "Price of LPG cylinders is very high. Paying Rs 1100 per month for a cylinder is steep. Being a working mother with two children who earns Rs 11,000 per month, it gets difficult to manage expenses amid rising inflation," Redekar said. Mahesh Gaikwad, an employee at the Mumbai Vidya Peeth, meanwhile demanded that the government should increase the basic income tax exemption limit.
Putting focus on inflation and market prices, another person from Kolkata said that the 'ease of doing business' cannot persist if inflation is overlooked. "Covid has adversely affected the economy in India. Edible and drinking items have become very expensive. This inflation needs to be tackled first for ease of doing business. It is also imperative that the government draws its attention to the market fees," he said. He further added that exemption on tax for middle-class people who own properties worth less than 30 lakhs should also be considered by the government.
