Opinion | West Bengal Budget: Substance Over Hype |
This fortnight's column could have been about the historic appearance by a sitting Chief Minister in the Supreme Court. Or, a piece on the tepid Union Budget presented by the Finance Minister, which even the stock markets gave a thumbs down - Sensex saw its worst Budget-day fall in six years. Or, we could have written about how the Election Commission have completely botched up the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Or, crafted a column on the canine habits of women MPs who were, absurdly, accused of being all set to injure the Prime Minister if he spoke in Lok Sabha. But, instead, let me write about how a state government, poised to comfortably win the forthcoming Assembly polls, turned out a Budget for the State that was low on hype and high on substance.
Here are 15 stats you cannot ignore.
Beyond these statistics, some stories are worth telling. A girl from a poor family being able to continue her studies because she is now provided with real financial assistance. A student from a remote village cycling to school on her bicycle. A home-maker receiving money every month to augment her household finances. A farmer sleeping peacefully because he knows that schemes from the State government protect him. A professional being admitted to a hospital knowing her medical insurance is covered.
"But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep"
- Robert Frost.
(Additional research: Ayashman Dey)
(Derek O'Brien, MP, leads the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author