Every money-lender puts conditions. Whether to observe or not it is our job and our responsibility. There is no burden on anybody. The Prime Minister herself has declared on behalf of the Government and the country that if we find that the terms are not acceptable to us in terms of the country’s honour and interest, we will refuse it. There is nothing wrong about this matter. This position has been made absolutely clear.
This year will have to be judged by the investments and provisions that they have made in important vital sectors like agriculture industry. Fertilizer is a part of the industrial scheme. The main thing that we have to remember is that we are not merely supporting one particular vital sector of our economy but we are trying to implement the Sixth Plan in totality, as we have promised to the nation. This is also not merely a yearly budget but as .a part of the sixth five yearly implementation of certain commitments that we have made to our people. If take this criteria. I think, Mr. Finance Minister you have done excellently well. I must congratulate you.
The other criteria I have referred to is social injustice. Because the theory of growth alone dose not help. We have learnt the lesson in the course of 30 years of our history. We have learnt from our own experience that we believe more in growth. Therefore, at one time, we found that the rich have become richer and the poor have become poorer. Therefore, we have to adjust our tactics, strategies and policies. This is what precisely the Prime Minister has said in her last speech on industrial policy. She is looking to the development of our industries and our economy. We cannot act in the same way as we were acting in 1952. You can act in a particular way at the age of 5. At 25, you cannot act in the same way. You have to change your manners, behaviour and methods of work.
I do not know want to take more time and, therefore, I not want to go into details. They have done many things. One can enumerate a large number of cases. Take the case of lower income group people. There is no income-tax at present on an income upto Rs. 15,00. In addition to that, the salaries employee get a standard deduction of 20 per cent subject to a ceiling of Rs. 5,000.
In 1982-83 the rate of standard deduction has been raised to 25 per cent, subject to the existing limit of Rs. 5,000. Another innovation that he has introduced in this budget is the social security scheme. It is one more new idea. One can add to these ideas and think about more and more projects. He has done it.
When any Finance Minister is thinking of presenting his budget, he has to consider what incentives for savings and investments he has to give. That is one pet phrase which be constantly hears every minute of his life during the pre-budget days - incentive for saving and investment. It is in this context that we have to consider the capital investment bond scheme.
