A Healthy Budget!

A Healthy Budget The recent budget presented by the Finance Minister, Sri Chidambaram is laudable on many counts. Of course, the Rs 60000 crores loan waiver is based on electoral compulsions rather than economic rationale. Nonetheless, the election year budget had some sops for everyone. The 5yr tax holiday for hospitals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is very much welcome.This will encourage doctors to establish new hospitals in semirural areas. Also the altered Income Tax rules will benefit many doctors. Health insurance premiums have been declared tax free, so that a higher percentage of the population can now be covered.. The ailing Pharma Industry also has received some relief measures and many lifesaving drugs will be cheaper now. Excise has been cut on small cars and many electronic items, so doctors can now buy more cars, computers and medical equipment! Ever since Mr Manmohan Singh presented the pathbreaking budget of 1994, the liberalization gates have been thrown open. Since then, Indian economy, often compared to an Elephant, has woken up from its slumber and started marching forwards steadily. Now the Elephant has already overtaken the Russian Bear, the South Eastern Tigers, and poised to overtake the Chinese Dragon and the American Bald Eagle. Let us hope that under the guidance of able FMs like Chidambaram and Manmohan singh, our country will soon attain Superpower status…… Jai Hind!