In the run up to the Union Budget, RSS outfit the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Monday asked the Government for the “total revamping” of the process of Budget preparation, abandoning of “secrecy” in “this age of transparency and RTI”, and going beyond “mere consultation”.
Seeking “a people friendly budget”, the BMS has in a letter asked the Finance Ministry for the implementation of DBT (direct benefit transfer) in all the Government schemes, gender budgeting with needs of women identified and focus placed on girl child education.
Besides, the organisation said there should be “a progressive shift” from indirect tax system to direct tax. “Indirect tax constitutes about 86 per cent of the total revenue. It burdens each and every citizen, even those who are BPl. Whereas, direct tax is collected from the creamy section of the society,” said BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay.
“Government is subsidising the rich and taxing the poor. The common man is funding the Government through the indirect taxes while Indian corporates are given all types of concessions and exemptions”, said BMS, one of the main organisations of the RSS.
“There is a gross mismatch between the aspirations of the people and the slow progression of social transition. Paltry concessions or charity in the budget cannot change the economic condition of the people”, it said as the government has started the process of finalization of the Union Budget to be presented in the coming session of Parliament, starting next month.
While presenting their suggestions for the budget, the RSS outfit appreciated finance Minister Arun Jaitley for “the 7.5% growth achieved by the NDA Government inspite of the global slowdown” and also “congratulated” him for “his good initiative” on the bonus hike with retrospective effect.
“These efforts have kindled expectations that the Government is gaining a pro labour, pro poor image”, the BMS said. The BMS had recently felicitated Jaitley at a function here for “ taking positive steps”.
“Proper implementation of minimum wages can revolutionize the standard of living of the majority of the population. Administrative cost should not go beyond 5 per cent of the total allocation. For the purpose, DBT (direct benefit transfer) has to be implemented in all the Government schemes. To assist this, facilitation centres can be identified at the ground level”, it said.
Stressing the importance of “Gender budgeting”, it said gender-specific provisions should find a mention in economic objectives and thrust areas of the Budget.
“Women should have equal access to financial credit, marketing, training, new technologies, information on SSI etc. Micro finance should be made available to women entrepreneurs with/without the assistance of Self Help Groups”, it said.
The RSS organisation said, ‘Right to life’ guaranteed by the constitution should include financial assistance to destitute women including widows, old women, deserted women, wives with sick or alcoholic husbands, women belonging to bonded labour, migrant workers, forest workers etc.
Besides, working women’s hostels should be set up where there is a concentration of women, it said.
Demanding transparency in the budget making , the BMS said secrecy in budget finalisation “which is a colonial relic” should be abandoned.