Contrary to expectation, there was no big bang reform in regard to subsidies in Modi-government’s maiden budget presented on July 10, 2014. However, Arun Jaitley announced setting up of an expenditure reforms commission (ERC). While, we may have to wait for ERC recommendations until next budget in February, 2015, meanwhile Jaitley has given some ideas on direction in which government intends to move forward. Thus, he opines that extant dispensation of subsidies which he describes as ‘un-quantifiable’ and beneficiaries ‘un-identifiable’ cannot be allowed to continue. He emphasized need for replacing this by a system of direct subsidy transfer to poor. To countenance menace of subsidies, Jaitely alluded to fundamental need for consumers/users to pay for increase in cost of goods...
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Category: Pricing Policies & Subsidies
Scrap the Food Security Act
It’s a colossal dole that will impact production and push up prices without improving the condition of the hungry The Indian electorate has given an overwhelming mandate to the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) hoping it will deliver development and good governance. The Congress-led UPA has been routed. This shows the people have rejected its hollow promises of access to the essentials of life as a matter of right. All through his election campaign, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made a song and dance about a list of fundamental rights granted to people under the UPA dispensation. Among these, he talked loudest of the right to food to demonstrate that his party was sensitive to the livelihood concerns of the...
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Food Security – need for a paradigm shift
Indian electorate has given an overwhelming mandate to Narendra Modi led NDA to conduct affairs of nation on plank of development and good governance. Congress led UPA has been routed. People have rejected its hollow promises of access to quint-essentials of life as a matter of right. All through his election campaign, Rahul Gandhi (RG) brow beated about a volley of fundamental rights granted to people under UPA dispensation. He talked loudest about right to food to demonstrate that his party was sensitive to livelihood concerns of poor. India has been ruled by Congress for over six decades. Through most of this period, it has consistently proclaimed its commitment to ameliorating lot of poor. It milched ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan to...
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