Every year, we the “aam aadmis and aam aurats’ eagerly await for the month of February – for no other reason other than the fact that this is when our finance minister delivers our fate for the next year to come. Interests in this year’s budget are running particularly high, given that this could be a make or break for the new government. Now there has been much talk about how this may be a women focused budget.
There have even been reports of women’s organisations approaching the PM, asking for a gendered budget with an added Rs.1000 crore to Nirbhaya fund. After 2 years of inaction on that front, it would be very interesting to see how they plan to utilize the 2000 crores that has now accrued in the Nirbhaya fund. However except for giving the Nirbhaya fund a shot in the arm, what else does the first full-fledged budget of BJP have in store for women?
While the home-makers scan anxiously for changes in their LPG and commodity prices, we single, working women too have much to whoop or worry, depending on which way the budget sways. After all, we pay taxes, pay rent and with the rest of the salary, we try to squeeze in eating out, date nights, booze, clothes and birthday-gifts each month. So, here’s decoding the budget this year for us single women.
1.Goods and service tax: This is an indirect tax which is payable generally on goods and services (this is the section we anxiously scan in a restaurant bill after every meal wondering whether we should leave any tip). Now, service tax in general has been increased but how will this affect us? All those late hours at work means take away food is as essential as breathing to us. So guess what, our daily routine has just become even more expensive (if that was possible).
Joining their ranks is none other than their weekend buddy – alcohol. Another cause for worry is our beloved beauty parlour which is also a victim of the increased service tax. Brace yourselves, bushy eyebrows are coming! Travel and cigarettes feature on the list as well – a blessing in disguise for the lungs though, I suppose.
Respite can be found in packaged fruits and vegetables, footwear, computers, local mobile phones and certain home appliances which are proposed to be made cheaper. However, air travel has become more expensive, even as the number of countries providing visa on arrival will now be increased to 150 from just 43.
2.Custom duty on commercial vehicles: Now, I may not be your finance consultant but if you want my opinion, this may not be the year for you to buy a new car. What do I have against it? Nothing really but our finance minister does – the custom duty on commercial vehicles has gone up to 40% from a mere 10%! I don’t mean to shatter hopes and the option to ‘go green’ is forever available where duty on such vehicles has been completely waived off.
3.Wealth tax: Real estate, a common form of investment for some of us women, just got a tad cheaper now that the wealth tax has been abolished. I suppose the government has figured a way to offset the revenue deficit by adding a surcharge for the richer class – we can ride our hopes on this, for the time being.
4.Clothing! (Cannot do without!): One cannot compromise on fashion – we’d rather skip a meal. It seems that Mr. Arun Jaitely has decided to go easy on our pockets – branded clothing isn’t going to be more expensive after all. The added bonus here is reduction of excise duty on imported footwear. I guess this is the year where we dress to kill, from head to toe.
So overall, it seems reasonably well thought of and a vision for the long term. How it gets implemented remains to be seen.
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