FM promises reforms, growth-focus, inflation-check

With a fair dose of reforms in the form of direct kerosene and fertiliser subsidies to users, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday presented the federal budget for 2011-12, promising to check inflation and corruption and push growth.

Stating that India had bounced back after the global financial crisis with broadbased growth, he said inflation remained a matter of concern, especially in food prices, though it had dipped from over 20 percent to around 7 percent now.

The finance minister also said more allocations were being made during this fiscal for areas such as agriculture and education, in a bid to reap the demographic dividend that is already seeing India having the largest working population in the world.

This apart, he said the foreign direct investment policy was being revamped, which may result in the entry of multinational firms in the country's $300 billion retail trade industry, apart from liberalising the norms governing pension and insurance funds.

"We are reaching an end to a remarkable year with high growth and many challenges. Our growth in 2010-11 has been swift and broad-based. Economy is back to pre-crisis growth trajectory," Mukherjee said in his opening remarks.
"In the medium term, our three priorities of maintaining high growth trajectory, making development more inclusive and improving our institutions remain relevant," the minister added.

This is the sixth such exercise for the 75-year-old politician. He tabled three budgets between 1982 and 1984. The one unveiled Monday was the third successive one for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Expectations were high from both households and the corporate sector as this budget is being presented against the backdrop of high inflation, fluctuating industrial growth, erratic exports and a general perception that the reform process has retarded.

"I do not foresee resources being a major constraint, at least in the medium term," Mukherjee said, referring to the money needed to address the larger agenda of growth, social programmes and infrastructure development.
He said the farm sector had shown a rebound with 5.4 percent growth, industry was regaining its earlier momentum and services continued to grow at double digits. He added that fiscal consolidation too was impressive.

Following are the highlights of his speech:

* Infrastructure critical for development; 23 percent higher allocation in 2011-12.
* Rs.30,000 crore to be raised through tax-free bonds.
* Food storage capacity to be augmented - 15 more mega food parks to be set up in 2011-12; of 30 sanctioned in previous fiscal, 15 set up.
* Cold storage facilities to be recognised as infrastructure sector.
* Comprehensive policy on further developing PPP (public-private-partnership) model.
* Farmers need access to affordable credit.
* Moving to improve nutritional security.
* Necessary to accelerate production of fodder.
* Number three (third consecutive budget) may be lucky for me.
* Women's self-help development panel to be set up.
* FIIs can invest $40 billion in corporate bonds.
* Rs.100 crore equity fund for microfinance companies.
* Mortgage risk guarantee fund to be created for economically weaker sections.
* Housing loan limit for priority sector lending raised to Rs.25 lakh.
* Agriculture growth key to development: Green Revolution waiting to happen in eastern region.
* Growth at 8.75 percent to 9.25 percent in 2011-12.
* Bills on insurance, pension funds, banking to be introduced.
* Gap between wholesale and retail prices not acceptable.
* Setting up independent debt management office; public debt management bill to be introduced in parliament.
* Seek Lord Indra's blessings for good monsoon.
* Introduction of goods and services tax will improve compliance.
* Bill on goods and services tax in current session.
* Expenditure has to be oriented towards production of goods and services.
* Government committed to retaining 51 percent stake in public sector enterprises.
* FDI policy being liberalised.
* Current account deficit at 2009-10 levels.
* Corruption a problem we have to fight collectively.
* Development needs to be more inclusive.
* Stronger fiscal consolidation needed.
* Setting tone for newer, vibrant economy.
* Economy has shown remarkable resilience to external and internal shocks.
* Economy back to pre-crisis trajectory.
* Set pace for double digit growth.
* Total food inflation declined to less than 9 percent in January.
* Could have performed better.