MARCH 09, 2011

No tax sops for women folks!  

By Padmini Sundaram

BECHARA FM da, with all the scams surrounding the UPA Government, managed to present a “please all” budget shifting the focus on the reforms. But the women folk who usually get tax sops are a little disheartened that their male counterparts have something to smile for in this budget. Adding to their woe is the increase in the cost of branded jewellery due to the levy of 1% excise duty and with gold prices soaring everyday this 1% may not be a small amount to part. Actually this will affect only a small percentage of our women which is the tax paying community and of course the affluent women who can afford the branded jewellery. And of course reducing excise duty on diapers and sanitary napkins is happy news for all the moms of babies and women.

This budget, our FM's focus was on the women in rural India who form the major chunk of our women population and he had lots to give them. Most important of all is the decision to double the salaries of anganwadi workers which will benefit 22 lakh women in rural India. These women are the backbone of the ICDS scheme(Integrated child Development Service) which is one of the world's largest child welfare programmes. Kudos to FM for this wonderful gift to our rural women and it is a great feeling to know that some portion of our tax paid money will be spent for educating these children in rural India.