BUDGET EXEMPTIONS

As a super senior citizen who donates money to different charities every year, I wish the Union Budget had not removed Section 80G (donations), from the list of eligible exemptions. It is cruel, not to those who pay the tax, but the donees, like Cancer Society, Save the Children and many others who do a wonderful job of looking after several helpless members of our society. By removing the sop, taxpayers will stop donating money and the sufferers will be those vulnerable people. I appeal to the FM to maintain status quo on this. Secondly, citizens above 80 are exempt from tax up to `5 lakh per annum. This was removed. The tax lost because of this exemption is worthwhile.

S.R. Mohan Secunderabad