Diverse reactions are coming in on finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's Assam Budget 2019-20, including those from politicians, intellectuals, industry leaders, experts and the twitterati.
Here are some of the reactions:
Sarbananda Sonowal, CM, Assam : Assam Budget 2019 is a forward looking vision for our development journey. This budget for all sections of greater Assamese society is a testimony to our commitment. It will empower women, give new direction to youth development & initiate steps to preserve indigenous traditions.
Dr. Jaydeep Baruah: The populist announcements (are meant) to allay the dissent among the people ahead of the polls and avoid its imminent defeat.
Bidyananda Barkotoky, Tea Planter: Overall good budget but the free rice delivery mechanism need clarification. Same person cannot obtain two subsidies. An adult labour is anyway getting 4.36 kg of rice per week at the rate of .55 paisa per kg. Tea Management would like to monetize it as we buy it from the market at Rs 23 .50 per kg and give at .55 paisa per kg. The difference can be paid as cash component to the labour.
R.K.Gupta, Chartered Accountant: It is a rubbish budget. If your state and people of it are so advanced, why you give 53 lakh families of Assam at Rs 1 kg. That means people of Assam are so poor. Again you are giving one told of gold worth Rs 30,000. Why do not you make it a revolving fund for some income generating activities.
Bhaskar Bora, Professor, GU: The budgets nowadays have become mission-vision statement instead of actual accounting. It should have been more pragmatic on various burning issues of the state like flood. Rather it has been glossed with sops for election.
The opposition parties on Wednesday dubbed the budget as election budget, offering "poll lollipops" and alleged that the exercise has failed to address serious issues the people face.
