There is nothing and then, there’s everything! These are the exact sentiments that would echo through most Indian households and more so from the Women who manage these households. Let’s take a look at what is in store for housewives and Indian women in the coming year as an outcome of Budget 11-12
Going to the sabzi mandi (Vegetable market) to be happier again
The FM has given a big relief to the master chef of every Indian household- the lady of the house – by showing a very strong resolve to reign in the prices of Vegetables, fruits, food grains, poultry products, meat and dairy products by a combination of special allotments to specific segments, improvement in efficiency of agriculture supply chain and giving support to the farmers.
The above efforts are sure to ensure a price reduction in Vegetable prices in the near future and a cooling of prices of other food items in the medium to long term.
Cooking fuel to reach home properly
A byproduct of the government’s focus on direct cash subsidy to Kerosene and LPG could be in the form of getting your LPG cylinder sooner after you book your gas. The logic behind this is that, today system of a comprehensive subsidy for all Domestic LPG cylinders, there is widespread diversion of these cylinders for commercial purposes. If the government ensures a better and efficient system for subsidizing LPG/Kerosene, then such malpractices will go down and your local LPG supplier will have to provide you better service and regular supply to earn his bread.
Support for Rural Women
The FM has announced the creation of a Women’s SHGs Development Fund” to empower women and foster more inclusion. This fund will have a corpus of Rs 500 crore.
More Handloom products could be seen
The FM’s initiative of providing Rs 3000 crore to support handloom weavers could mean that these weavers are able to come out of debt and start afresh thus providing a fresh impetus to this dying sector.
Edible Oil to be cheaper in a few years
The FM has proposed to allocate Rs 300 Crores towards increasing the acreage under Oil Palm cultivation. As of today almost 50% of our Edible oil consumption is satisfied by imports. Increasing the acreage will result in higher production in 3-5 years to the tune of 3 lakh metric tonnes.
Healthier Food on your dining table
The FM has indicated the government’s intention to promote healthier and nutritious foods. RS 300 crore has been allocated to promote cultivation of Millets including Bajra, Jowar and Ragi.
Travel for shopping to be more smoother for Metro Women
The increase in number of buses under JNNURM and focus on speeding up the metro projects in Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata and start the 3rd phase for Delhi and Mumbai metro will mean that local travel in these cities can become all the more better for the housewife who prefers to use the public transport system to go to the shopping mall from home and back.
Children to be educated better
An increase of 27% (Rs 52057 Crore) allocation on spends for Education will mean more efforts to improve the schooling system and higher access to children for Primary and Secondary school.
Ready Made textiles to be costlier
A mandatory levy of 10% as compared to an optional levy regime today on Ready Made Textiles could mean that the Housewife will have to shell out more from her pocket when she visits malls like Central Mall, West side to purchase her dresses or other branded showrooms.
Silk dresses could be cheaper
A reduction of 25% in Customs duty on imported raw silk could mean a reduction in Silk products in the medium term.
Lesser current bills
LED lights are known to have lower power consumption. The house wife can now buy more LED lights to light up the house as the FM has waived the entire Special CVD on LED and the excise duty also has been reduced to 5% from the current 10%.
Laundry Soaps to be cheaper
Full exemption from Customs duty for Crude Palm Stearin could mean a reduction in prices of Laundry soaps. This will not only help the house wife save money for the family but at the same time save the environment and save water too! Laundry soap is good for water conservation and gentle on soil.
What else is Cheaper?
On account of drastic reduction in Customs duty the following items will cost lesser for the housewife:
Raw Pistachio – for the ice cream making mummies
Agarbattis – for the devotional housewives!
Homeopathic medicines – for the caring in-house doctor
Sanitary and Baby napkins as well as Adult diapers.
As discussed at the beginning of the article, the measures relating to Agriculture and Food alone are enough to bring a sigh of relief to every housewife. Look forward to seeing fresher vegetables and fruits on the dinner table!