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Is current budget ignoring needs of ordinary citizens?

Published : Wednesday, 12 June, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 304
MD ANISUR RAHMAN
The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 has been formally presented in the Parliament. Members of the Parliament (MPs) are currently engaged in a comprehensive discussion and analysis of its various provisions and allocations in the Parliament. People from all walks of life across the country are also discussing the issue with great interest. This deliberation phase is crucial, as it allows for detailed examination and debate over the fiscal policies, priorities, and expenditures outlined in the budget. Through these discussions, parliamentarians aim to address concerns, suggest amendments, and ultimately ensure that the budget reflects the nations economic goals and the needs of its citizens.

Will this budget fulfill peoples expectations? Is the budget proposed considering all level of people? What is mass peoples perception? These are the question going on among the citizens.

The general public has expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the proposed budget. They feel that the budget fails to address their urgent needs and concerns. Many are disheartened by the absence of measures to alleviate their economic hardships, as there are no indications that the cost of daily necessities will decrease. On the contrary, the prices of essential commodities continue to rise unchecked. This hike is placing additional financial strain on households. Consequently, people are labeling this budget as a "people-unfriendly" budget, reflecting their disappointment and frustration with the lack of relief or support for improving their everyday lives.

Farmers who keep active our economic growth are hopeless about the proposed budget as they do not see any favorable measures included for their benefits. They had anticipated that the budget would include provisions to reduce the prices of essential agricultural inputs like fertilizer and insecticides, which would enable them to increase crop production and enhance their livelihoods. Unfortunately, these expectations have been dashed, leaving farmers discouraged and disillusioned. The lack of support for reducing input costs has nipped their hopes in the bud, further compounding their challenges in the agricultural sector.

In Bangladesh, 80% people live in the village. This majority of people do not know what budget is; they only know if they can lead a hassle-free life; they only know whether they can afford their essential commodities. Their primary concern is securing two square meals a day, yet this basic need is increasingly out of reach as prices for everyday goods skyrocket. The proposed budget offers no hope for alleviating these financial burdens, with no measures to decrease living costs. Instead, it appears to cater to the wealthy, ignoring the dire needs of the poor and impoverished. Consequently, many view this as a rich-people-oriented budget, leaving the general populace feeling abandoned and frustrated in their daily struggles to make ends meet.

There is no noticeable change in the budget for the education sector. The prices of books and exercise books (khata) remain unaffordable for many families. Most of the students in the country struggle to purchase necessary educational materials due to their high costs. In private educational institutions, the cost of education has become a distant dream for many students, with unchecked admission and tuition fees exacerbating the situation. Unfortunately, the proposed budget fails to address these critical issues, leaving many students and their families without the support they desperately need.

Newspapers across the country are continuously reporting that the lives of the general people will become even more challenging following the proposed budget, as the prices of commodities are expected to rise further. This has led to widespread questioning and concern among the public, with many wondering if the country is only for the rich and if the budget solely caters to their interests. People are asking what provisions have been made for the poor and middle-class citizens who are struggling to make ends meet. The lack of support for these vulnerable groups in the budget is evident, as it fails to address their pressing needs and concerns, leaving them to face increasing economic hardships without relief.

There are lakhs of unemployed people in the country, and many had high hopes that the new budget would foster an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, thereby generating employment opportunities. They anticipated measures such as tax breaks, startup grants, and incentives for small businesses that would help them secure jobs and build sustainable livelihoods. Unfortunately, the budget fails to introduce any such initiatives, leaving these unemployed individuals without the support they desperately need to enter the workforce or start their own ventures.

This lack of action not only exacerbates the unemployment crisis but also stifles economic growth and innovation. As unemployment continues to rise, the social and economic fabric of the nation faces increased strain, underscoring the urgent need for policies that support job creation and economic inclusion.

In conclusion, the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 has sparked widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the general people. Despite the comprehensive discussions and analyses by Members of Parliament, the budget appears to fall short in addressing the urgent needs and concerns of various segments of society. The general public, especially those in rural areas, struggle to cope with rising prices of essential commodities, and the lack of measures to alleviate these financial burdens has led many to view the budget as favoring the wealthy. Farmers are particularly disheartened by the absence of support for reducing the costs of agricultural inputs, exacerbating their economic challenges. Additionally, the education sector remains neglected, with high costs for books and tuition fees making education increasingly inaccessible for many families.

Unemployment, a critical issue, also remains unaddressed, with no initiatives to foster entrepreneurship or create job opportunities. As the budget fails to provide relief or support for improving the everyday lives of the poor and middle-class citizens, it underscores the urgent need for more inclusive and supportive fiscal policies to ensure balanced economic growth and social stability.

The writer is Assistant Professor of English, Principal Kazi Faruky College, Lakshmipur



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