In Finance Ministry Twitter survey, most vote for agriculture-focused Budget
After agriculture, the maximum vote has been cast for infrastructure at 32 per cent.
New Delhi: The people want the government to focus more on agriculture in the forthcoming Union budget, according to the initial voting pattern on Twitter account of the finance ministry. The finance ministry on Friday for the first time invited suggestions from Twitterati on what should be the focus of the Budget for 2017-18 to be unveiled on February 1.
As per the initial voting pattern, 36 per cent on the voters on the Twitter want government to focus on the agriculture. Due to failure in monsoon in 2015 and 2014, there has been stress in the rural areas.
According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), farmer suicides in the country rose by 42 per cent between 2014 and 2015. It recorded 5,650 suicides by farmers and cultivators in 2014. The figure rose to 8,007 in the latest data.
After agriculture, the maximum vote has been cast for infrastructure at 32 per cent. Some 23 per cent voters were for focusing on the manufacturing sector and only 9 per cent for the I-T sector. Voting on the finance ministry account would remain open for a week. “Please give your suggestions... Which sector (Infrastructure/Manufacturing/Agriculture/IT and Services) needs more focus in Budget 2017-18?” the finance ministry said in a tweet. In November 2016, the finance ministry had invited suggestions from public on myGov portal for Budget 2017-18 in order to encourage public participation and bring in greater transparency. The government has decided to present the Budget for 2017-18 on February 1, instead of the usual practice of unveiling it on the last working day of February, so that all allocations are available before the start of financial year from April 1. It has also decided to merge the Rail Budget with the Union Budget. However, Opposition parties are demanding that Union budget should be postponed in view of the election in state including UP.