Conciliatory Budget

Ref.: ‘ FM was also cheered for things she did not do’ (February 3). Of the total outlay, around Rs 2 lakh crore was allotted for healthcare sector, with Rs 35,000 crore for Covid-19 vaccine development and inoculation. This augurs well. However, the speculated 9.5 per cent fiscal deficit is disappointing. To achieve the target, the Government was forced to take certain bitter decisions, such as privatisation of state-owned companies and blowing hot and cold with petrol and diesel prices. With the country going through catastrophic events imperilling human lives, the Budget for 2021-22 may be embraced as a conciliatory one. Seetharam Basani