Budget 2021: What Mumbai's common man wants

(From left) Devang Ashar, Sandeep Trivedi, Sanket Trivedi, Madhavi Ashar, Maurishka Ashar, Nimay Ashar, Sureshbhai Ashar, Bina Udeshi, Bhavana Mankermi and Shobhana Ashar discuss their expectations from Budget 2021

The pandemic and the lockdown have been challenging for one and all, but it is the middle class tax-payer, who has probably suffered the most. On the eve of the budget, to get an insight into the expectations of the common man from it, mid-day spoke to the families of Santacruz-based Suresh Ashar and Sandeep Trivedi. Ashar ran a successful industrial textile weaving business for years before retiring, while Trivedi is a tax consultant.

Sandeep Trivedi, 55 Tax consultant
The global pandemic has hit growth extensively. Major incentives have to be injected to boost the economy, which has taken a hit, during these testing times. The small industries should be supported and nurtured in a better fashion. Taxes on individuals should be brought down.

Suresh Ashar, 85, Retired businessman
For the past 60 years I have been paying my taxes diligently, but today feel betrayed that the government has done practically nothing for me or my family. I will be happy if the government comes up with a proposal, where citizens start getting a fixed pension or a one-time amount, as and when they choose to retire. It should be purely calculated on the basis of how much tax they have paid over the years. This will eliminate all kinds of malpractices and encourage more people to file their Income Tax returns honestly. The tax collecting structure in our country has always been focused only on generating revenue for the government but has never offered any direct returns for the hard-working classes, who pay their taxes honestly. This has to change, if we aim to become a welfare state.

Bina Udeshi, 71 Housewife (Suresh's sister-in-law)
My son was the only breadwinner in the family. Early last year he was diagnosed with a heart condition and had to be hospitalised for nine months. We spend over R7 lakh on his treatment, but the doctors could not save him. He is survived by his young wife and twin daughters, who are barely two years old. Today getting even basic funds to run the house is difficult. At this age I cannot go out looking for a job and neither can my daughter-in-law, who has to look after the babies. We cannot be a burden on my other son, who lives separately with his wife and kid. He has his own set of responsibilities and challenges. I would like to see some radical changes in the health sector, so that one sickness in the family doesn't wipe out the entire savings. There should be more government-run hospitals and clinics, which are on par with the best private hospitals.

Devang Ashar, 45 Software business (Suresh's son)
The government should focus on mid-size businesses and small entrepreneurs. The revenue has gone down, however the expenses have remained the same.

Sanket Trivedi, 22 Student (Sandeep's son)
A sharp focus on employment is anticipated and the government could look at new avenues of privatisation, where its sectors have failed to deliver. People who have taken loans expect that the interest rates are lowered. The lockdown has been bad for all of us, but we have to accept the challenges and move ahead. Positive government policies will help us get back on track.

Madhavi Ashar, 55 Family counselor, entrepreneur (Suresh's daughter-in-law)
In spite of having a small business, my husband, Nilesh, and I dipped into our savings to pay the salaries of nearly R2.7 lakh to our staff of 15 during the lockdown. Though we have made drastic changes to our personal lifestyle, by cutting expenditure on all non-essential goods, we are reaching a stage, where even basic household expenses are now pinching us. It is high-time that the government takes immediate positive steps to ensure that small businesses like ours survive or it could have a devastating domino effect. The government can also consider giving benefits to those who have small families. This will help ease the pressure on the economy, arising from the ever-growing population.

Nimay Ashar, 28 MNC employee (Suresh's grandson)
My major expectations include tax relief for MSMEs to boost the business sector. This will also increase job opportunities. Increase in standard exemption for salaried employees and modification of taxation slabs to allow additional savings which have been lost during the pandemic are needed. The government must pay extra attention to infrastructure and development in the major metros, where maximum number of tax-payers stay.

ShobhAna Ashar, 75 Housewife (Suresh's wife)
I hope that the upcoming budget gives ample opportunities for all to flourish and also has some special benefits for senior citizens, who have fixed deposits in banks. These are now yielding much lower interest rate, as compared to before, that too when the cost of living has been escalating constantly.

Bhavana Mankermi, 79 Housewife (Suresh's daughter-in-law's mother)
Much before the lockdown in December 2019 my husband succumbed to a stroke, after our life-savings of R30 lakh in FDs, which we considered to be safe investments, got locked up after the PMC bank scam. The government has to ensure that the banks regain the trust of the common man. My husband's treatment cost us nearly Rs 17 lakh, which I somehow managed by borrowing from family and partially from the limited bank withdrawals, which were permitted. Life has gone downhill since and I had to seek my daughter and son-in-law's help to undergo a cataract operation. The health care sector, especially for senior citizens, needs major improvement as we have reached a stage that citizens are scared to be diagnosed with an illness which requires hospitalisation. It has become a very costly affair and puts a tremendous financial burden on the family.