Mr. Tarun Anand, Founder and Chairman, Universal Business School, Mumbai
The budget has all the right intensions whether it is inclusive development, reinvigorating human capital or innovation and R&D. The announcements on power are especially significant because in this era of online learning, it is extremely important that electricity is available, for students to access information. The Internet connection, of course, follows through.
I am particularly excited that the National Research Foundation has to get an outlay of 50,000 Cr over the next 5 years to strengthen research and focus on the national priorities. Innovation and R&D being one of the six pillars, it is critical that both private and public partnerships are encouraged in the field of research as this is fundamental to the development of our country
Ashish Jhalani, Managing Director, Square Panda India
Square Panda is very excited that inclusive development for aspirational India and reinvigorating human capital are two pillars on which budget 2021 rests. The two important announcements for us are that over 15,000 schools are to implement the National Education Policy and act as a model for the rest of the schools.
Also, a 100 new Sainik Schools and 750 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are to be set up in tribal areas. Each of these, is an opportunity to skill our children, our pre-schoolers in the right way, with the right pedagogy and ensure that their foundational literacy and numeracy is achieved and that they become contributing citizens to the India of the future.
Dr Ramakanta Panda, world’s leading cardiovascular thoracic surgeon, Managing Director & Vice Chairman, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s economic vaccine, her third budget was announced today. She has spoken of six pillars of development- health & wellbeing; physical, financial and capital infrastructure; inclusive development for aspirational India; reinvigorating human capital; innovation and R & D and minimum government and maximum governance. There is definitely a major emphasis on infrastructure. They have announced a total spend of around 2 trillion on healthcare and mega national highway projects which is always a boost for the economy. The allocation to health in this budget has been increased substantially. The areas of focus will be preventive and curative healthcare as well as wellbeing. There is a 137 % increase in the allocation from the previous budget. Also 35 thousand crore has been budgeted for the COVID 19 vaccination expenditure in financial year 2021- 22.
Arman Ali, executive director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP)
The budget 2021 has spoken that it rests on the 6 pillars, one of which is inclusive development for aspirational India but persons with disabilities have once again been neglected. Year after year, the disability sector sends its asks to the Govt of India but this time again these asks were not even mentioned. This budget was of utmost importance due to the ongoing pandemic as people have lost jobs and children have dropped out of schools because of the lack of facilities.
The ‘Atma Nirbhar Swasthya Bharat Scheme’ which is the highlight of this year’s budget focusing on Strengthening of Primary and Secondary Health Care Centres has no word on persons with disabilities. However, we hope that all disabled people are included under the announced health schemes.
The saddest part is that the budget document is still referring to the Persons with Disabilities Act,1995. We have entered into the 5th year of RPWD Act 2016 and yet, time and again, we have to remind the government about the latest laws on disability.
Other than exempting senior citizens who are over the age of 75 from ITR filing and easier dividend payout ,there was no specific mention of inclusion and schemes for persons with disabilities that was announced in the budget. The budget for the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePwD) has been reduced to 1171.76 Crores from 1325.39 Crores, with an approximate cut of Rs. 150 Crores.
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