While I would have loved to see all the Budget 2008 recommendations of the ICT industry being accepted and incorporated, I am not really bothered beyond a point. I am looking at the brighter side of the picture. I believe this budget offers a lot for overall growth, well being, and happiness of India. Therefore, I am not just being patrioticour domestic market also offers a big business opportunity now.

I was very happy when I read that S Ramadorai of TCS, instead of focusing on the disappointment of the industry, talked about the allocation of special funds for Project Tiger. The way forests and the wild animals are vanishing in the country, I think it is more critical than promoting IT.

Similarly, Gurgaon, the new IT hub of India, has completely forgotten about the Aravali mountain ranges, which are being dynamited bit by bit by builders who are replacing the beautiful landscape with concrete jungle. I wish the government could allocate similar funds to check illegal blasting of old but serene mountains.

I am sure the productivity and creativity level of all software engineers and BPO executives will be much higher when they are working in campuses and buildings surrounded by green forests. I am equally sure that many other states will then try and emulate to create a city like Gurgaon, which will attract talent as well as investments. And this is what the ICT industry wants.

Therefore, we now need a budget for the common man. A budget that enhances the quality of education, infrastructure, and health services that the common Indian will have access to. We need a budget that will enhance the common mans quality of life.

Ibrahim Ahmad

The Rs 100 crore allocation to link educational institutes, and the decision to set up three IITs in Bihar, Rajasthan and AP will go a long way in that direction. The Union Budgets attempt to try and bridge the gender gaps in education could be a big step in that direction. Taking the budgets up on education to 20%, plans to establish 6,000 model schools, which will benefit 30 mn kids, will surely transform the life of the common man.

We have seen enough IT and investments going into enterprises to enhance the quality of the products and services they offer. Now we need to enhance the purchasing power of the common man so that he can buy and access these products and services.

Finally, one hopes that at a time when elections are not very far away, this budget will actually see implementation, and not just be there on paper. If it is actually implemented, I can promise that the benefits will be far-reaching and immense. Then you will not hear any complaints about the STP scheme, service tax on customized software, fringe benefit taxes, especially on the ESOP schemes.

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