What's cheaper, what's costlier ?

Presenting the Union Budget for 2009-10, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed reduced customs duty on LCD TVs to 5 per cent from existing 10 per cent, making the product cheaper. Prices of thin flat screen TVs and monitors will come down as the government lowered the basic customs duty on LCD panels used in manufacturing of such electronic goods to 5 per cent from 10 per cent. Besides, the government extended the exemption from full 4 per cent CVD on accessories, parts and components that are imported for making mobile phones, by one year. He also announced reducing basic customs duty on permanent magnets -- a critical component for Wind Operated Electricity Generators -- to five per cent from 7.5 per cent. But I don’t know what is done for bringing food items prices down? Just see any Daal is not lesser than Rs60/- per kg. Normal rice are being sold at 30-40/- per Kg. What is Congress doing by showing LCD prices lower by 5%. I feel that it’s a Third Grade budget by fourth class FM.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RAILWAY BUDGET 2009-10

- No hike in passenger fares, freight charges

- Rs 1,102 crore allocated towards improving passenger amenities

- Kolkata metro to be extended

- Rs 50 billion increase in budgetary support in 2009-10

- Freight target for 2009-10 set at 882 million tonnes

- Target set in interim budget unrealistic

- Freight cargo increased 5% in 2008-09

- One doctor to be posted on each long distance train

- Rs.25 monthly pass for unorganised sector employees with income below Rs 1,500 for travel up to 100 km

- New "Yuva" fully air-conditioned train for youth

- Yuva fares Rs.299 up to a distance of 1,500 km and Rs 399 up to 2,500 km

- Student concession to be extended to madarssa students

- Student concession of 60 percent on Kolkata Metro

- Introduction of trains for women during peak seasons

- 12 non-stop trains

- New train information system to be started in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi

- 50 mobile rail ticket vans to be introduced

- ATMs on 200 mid and small-sized stations

- Integrated security scheme for 140 vulnerable stations

- Setting up of a 1,000 MW power plant

- Special recruitment drive for the physically challenged, minorities

- Committee under Sam Pitroda to commercialise railways' optic fibre network

- Private operation of freight terminals to be encouraged

- New factory in West Bengal for making 500 state-of-the-art coaches annually

- "Janta khana" (peoples' food) to be provided at railway stations

- Railways will not be guided by economic viability, but by social commitment

- Seven nursing colleges to provide employment to railway spouses

- Medical colleges proposed to be opened through public-private partnership model

- Cold storages and cargo facilities to eliminate wastage of perishables

- 50 world class stations to be developed on public-private partnership model

- 309 out of 375 stations will be developed with modern facilities

- 50 stations at tourist, religious places to have integrated facilities

- Infotainment facilities on Rajdhani Express for long distance passengers

- Unreserved ticketing systems to be expanded from 5,000 to 8,000 terminals

- Passengers can buy unreserved tickets at 5,000 post offices

- Air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel

- SMS updates for wait-listed passengers

- 200 automatic vending machines at key stations for selling tickets

- Discount for press correspondents increased from 30 to 50%

- Discount of 60% on fare if press correspondents travel with spouse