'I hope the Union Budget is like the Rail Budget'
Kumud Mohinder, a 38-year-old painter-cum-sculptor, says: "The Budget presentation is an exercise that enables you to figure out how much money the government of India is spending in a particular sphere of life for the benefit of the people."
"It also reflects the growth rate achieved by the nation in the previous year and helps those in power in setting up new growth targets. Budget means taking stock of the receipts and the expenditure by the government on salaries, power projects, social sectors and other spheres of life."
"Who can understand the importance of the Budget more than the women who have to run their household within limited salaries?"
"Frankly, I never have any expectations from the Budget. The cost of essential commodities keeps on rising despite assurance to the contrary and so does the tax burden. In a country like India where the politicians hardly ever tell the truth it is too much to expect them to keep up their promises. But, Dr Manmohan Singh as the prime minister and Sonia Gandhi as the president of the Congress party could make a difference."
"They have kept their promise and not raised the fares in the Railway Budget and I hope they would do the same in the Union Budget."
"No matter how much I would wish to plan my spending according to the Budget, I would never be able to do that within my limited earnings. We the artists are constantly struggling to cope up expenses. We would like the finance minister to announce some special concessions for the artist community so that we could also save money for our children and look forward to selling our products in the international market."
"When he was the finance minister few years back, Chidambaram did present a good Budget but he did nothing for our community. I hope he does a good job for us as well."
"If I were in his place I would announce major concessions and tax benefits for the artists and ensure that they have a good and comfortable living standard. Of course I would announce special measures for the working women and the middle class families so that they could save something for the rainy day."
- As told to Onkar Singh
Photograph: Vijender Tyagi
Budget 2004-05: Complete Coverage