February 11, 2013 / 18:25 IST
Bienu Vaghela
Apnapaisa.com
Fiscal year 2012-2013 will go down in the history as year of consistently high prices, which played havoc with the budgets of most families. Constant rise in diesel and petrol prices led to the incessant price rise across all commodities and this irked common man no end. Families undertook drastic cut in the lifestyle expenses and struggled through expensive vegetables, fruits, groceries, clothes, school fees, movie tickets and what not.
But there were other's expectations from those who play an important role in our lives. I am chronicling these wishes for you and leave on to you to decide whose wishes will be granted in this budget.
The day starts with morning walk. While returning I chitchat with my friend – Mr. Aroop Sen who loves fog-laden morning along with this three Labrador dogs, who are his only companions. So I thought who else could be better than Mr. Sen, a retired Govt. officer to spell out his budget expectations. In his heavy bong accent, Mr. Sen said, “ Orri baba, the prices of dog food has shot up like anything in last few years so I had to take recourse of employing a cook to prepare meals my canine friends. I want dog food to be cheaper so that I can do away with my cook who too insists on a raise every now and then.”
Now it was time for rushing to office and driver, Sanjay Singh rings the bell. With budget conversation on mind, I started chatting with him.
When I asked him what does he expect from the budget. “ Arre didi mere chahne se kya hota hai”? This was Sanjay. “Arre but batao to shayad kuch ho jaye”. To this he said, “ The cost of education should come down as school fee is killing with my three school going children besides day-to-day household expenses, which are eating big pie into family budget. However my wife will love if clothes are cheaper so that she can buy more sarees for her niece’s wedding.”
Now it was time to board the train, and catch up with my regular and dear friend, Bharti Kamath, an Economist and associate professor. I knew something vital would come out from her. Here she was, “ The way Government is targeting fuel, contemplating decontrolling it thus finally doing away with fuel subsidy, it should consider doing the same for food also. Though it may burden the general public a little more, but it will help reduce fiscal deficit gradually which has been a major concern with the Government.”
Now I had reached office, it was time for morning meeting with CEO, still budget lingering on mind, I asked what would you recommend in this year’s budget? Mr. Roongta quipped, “ I would certainly like our home loan customers to benefit. I would like to draw FM’s attention to the age old limit of deduction for interest payable on loan taken to acquire a self-occupied property, was fixed at Rs. 1,50,000, way back in 2001. The increase in real estate prices since than has completely eroded the value of this deduction and this clearly needs an upward revision.”
Now it was time for the departmental meeting. My colleague Nikolai, product manager and father of two schools going kids, flashed his trademark smile. I knew something unique was coming from him and here it was,
“ I wish some sensible revision is done in tax slab and Service tax is also reduced from 12% to 10%. The deduction available under section 80C again was fixed as long ago in 2006 hence the limit of 80-C benefit to be increased from Rs. 1 lac to Rs. 1.5 – 2.0 lacs”.
It was time to head home. As I was about to enter the gate, I bumped into my neighbour Juhi with her bagful of fruits and vegetables. Budget was still not out of mind. I popped the question. Hey Juhi what do you expect in this budget? She questioned, “ Are you going to meet FM and tell him what an ordinary home maker expects? No I am not but I can make it read by him through media. She was happy. However quite unhappy on the current prices of vegetables, fruits, grocery, bread, eggs what not, which were playing havoc with her family budget. Juhi expressed, “ With two school going children and their unending demands, it was becoming increasingly difficult to pull through. Lifestyle expenditure has taken a heavy beating like eating out and movies are becoming thing of the past.” How right she was!
I was nearly done with it and excitedly I pressed the doorbell. My teenage daughter Tanya opened the door and was ready with her day’s update. Budget still not over…I thought why not ask her too who is an Economics student. Her reply may startle you too. Tanya said, “ Mom, brands like Mango and Zara, are so expensive here. Why FM should not reduce duties on them so that I can have some more rather only these two in my wardrobe?”
It was dinnertime and husband Mukund entered the scene puffing his favourite brand. That added to my wish list - Duty on cigarettes should increase manifold so that these become unaffordable, whereas duty on my favourite imported cosmetic brands should be slashed so that I can have some more!
…FM, grant us some more!
The writer is Chief EditorApnaPaisa is India's leading Online market place for financial products such as loans, credit cards and insurance plans. Author can be reached at www.facebook.com/apnapaisa. 
