India's Prime Minister asked for budget 2020 suggestions — this is what some of the social media influencers had to say

• Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to announce India’s union defence budget next month.
  
• Social media users have offered to help the FM with their suggestions.
  
• The most occured suggestion was either removing or reducing income tax.

Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to announce India’s union budget next month — and social media users have a long wishlist. The most common occured suggestion was to either remove or reduce income tax.

Change in income tax slabs
The rising prices of onion and increasing income tab slab spread worries across the country. With retail inflation shooting by 7.5%, Twitterati made a few serious and a few funny suggestions.

“Honest tax payers (salaried employees, others etc.,) are taxed again and again in various forms (GST on anything purchased) and not eligible for even government benefits (gas subsidy as an example). But many many non-tax payers (small businesses, contractors and other self employment) are earning equally or more than the salaried employees, they do not pay tax and they enjoy government benefits,” wrote Siva Shashidhara Reddy Saddala.

Whereas a user suggested making income tax compulsory for everyone above 18 years. “Each n every person either male or female, rich or poor, must pay INCOME TAX (AT LEAST ₹365/- PER YEAR) FROM THE AGE 18 YEARS” he said.







In the last Budget 2019-20, the Narendra Modi government did not alter the income tax slabs majorly. At the current rate income of upto ₹2.5 lakh is exempted from tax. There is a 5% tax on income between ₹250,001 to ₹5 lakh and 20% tax on income between ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh; and 30% tax on income above ₹10 lakh.

Some of the other users also suggested a change in health and education budgets. Recently, the series of infant deaths in Kota aslo shook the whole country.

As Sitharaman announces Budget, the pressure will be on the government to step up spending to upgrade public hospitals, which is the only option for millions of the country’s poor. According to the National Statistical Office, the average medical expense at a government hospital is ₹4,452 in comparison to ₹31,845 at a private hospital.





Go back Sitharaman
Some also suggested bringing back Subramanian Swamy as the finance minister instead of Nirmala Sitharaman. Swamy had been religiously criticising the Modi-government and its decisions. He pointed out some loopholes and quoted “Sweet dreams” and “Hare Ram” phrases on twitter.


Here is how you too can send suggestions on budget 2020:

• Visit mygov.in website
• Login with a social media account if you don't want to create an account.
• An OTP will be messaged on mobile phone.
• You can submit your suggestions either directly in the comments box or attach a PDF document.
• You can send your suggestions latest by January 20, 2020.

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