Finance Minister P Chidambaram has announced farm loan waiver of Rs 60,000 crore in this union Budget. Any decision that protects the right of the farming community is welcome. But before we congratulate him, some issues need to be resolved. The government should take proper care that every package it announces, should reach the target group. The agricultural sector in India is unstructured and most of the farmers are in the clutches of powerful moneylenders. So, the government, instead of playing vote bank politics should work on the grass root level and see that proper justice is done, The productivity of land in our country in not good. The farmers lack good irrigation facilities and most of the land in our country is unproductive. Illiteracy is another big issue among farmers and so they are vulnerable and likely to be attacked by the powerful moneylenders and local bankers. But the government, instead of taking a serious note of these, has taken a surface view. All steps have been taken to woo voters, as this is an election year.

Finally, Finance Minister has done what he is best at – using his economic genius. Last year, the FM presented a tepid Budget with very little for everybody, killing the whole excitement. Presenting the UPA government’s last Budget he has surprised everyone. Rather than performing under the pressure of the coalition, Chidambaram has shown the flexibility and given a largely populist Budget. Tax collections have gone up. As a common taxpayer I feel easy with the raising of the Income Tax slabs to Rs 1.5 lakh. Women, senior citizens have been given fair tax exemptions. The Budget gives immense relief to taxpayers by raising slabs. Farmers too are happy with the debt waiver. Cheering him loud and clear is the middle-class, who can now buy small cars and two wheelers for a lesser price. He has left the corporate tax structure untouched. It is definitely the best one by the humble PC so far.

For the first time in the history, Agriculture Sector has been given more importance in the Union Bodget 2008. I really welcome this. In toto Budget is pro Common man. New stratagies will certainly augment revenue despite there is cut in Excise duty and CST.

Thanks Finance minister for waiver of loans of small farmers. in past, the waiver of loans benefitted more to big farmer. the dying farmers are small framers

Rich are protected by their wealth. Poor are protected by Government's freebies. Only the middle class suffers but they are the majority voting population. Government should pay attention to this class.