It is not merely an economic problems but it is also a social problem and so, we shall have to look into it from this point of view. (Interruptions). The point I was making was that we are now at a stage in this country when we will have to think about these neglected problems in much more massive manner - not merely tinkering with them. Analysing the realities of the problems of rural India are also very very important. I would like to say that, as a citizen of this country and as a member of this house, the problems of haves and havenots have come into their own; it is a warning to all of us. If you do not try to deal with their problems on a priority basis, then things will be very difficult in our country.
Therefore, I say that let us not simplify the issues and let us not try to divide, in a way, into Party - A or Party - B. What is more important is this that the history has taken us much ahead and so, we have to learn from history. Now, we have to look ahead and see what exactly we want to do. Unless we do that, the future is not very bright. One will have to be well-determined. As you are a Finance Minister, I am raising this issue. Please educate your officials; may be, you will have to educate us also. You are making it an official problem. But, ultimately, it is we, the Members of Parliament, the politicians and their leaders who take the policy decision in this country. Therefore, it is for you to come forward and take these issues in a much more effective manner.
This was a general problem. Now I want to say something about the taxation proposals. You have made certain changes in your proposals. I would only make certain observations about one or two of them and I shall finish my speech.
One is about your proposal regarding the closely-held companies. This is something which we have not been able to understand. How is it that with your ideas of re-ordering things and bringing in some better life to the poor of our country, you accept this idea of giving these concessions to the closely-held companies. I am merely mentioning this because I think that you better give some thought to this point. By giving such a concession, you are only giving strength to the monopolistic concerns. Again it is a question of giving strength to the concentration of economic power in the hands of a few families. That is exactly what it comes to. We are going to move amendments on this and propose to press for it. I am just giving advance notice for that. For us it is an important issue. Hon. Members were very right in expecting that you would come forward with concessions in case of biris to small men. We think of small men because it is the small men who work hard and need relaxation. What have you done about their smoking. Is smoking this bad? I am asking my friend Shri Biju Patnaik whether smoking is bad or not.
Then, there is another aspect also. I hope you possibly know it or you must be aware of it. I cannot say. You know about the condition of the working-class that work in the biri industry, women, particularly, who work in their home. They get small additional income from that. This is a subsidiary industry. I am telling you that this sort of taxation that you are thinking about is going to put hardship on them. There is going to be a complete unemployment of many such people because the industrialists would somehow try to find a way-out; they know how to get out of this I am sure about it. The biri industry knows how to get rid of this taxation. They will certainly find out many ways. Therefore, I would like to make an appeal to the Finance Minister to have another look at it.
