Pranab focus on rural poor
* IT limit raised * Surcharge dropped
* FBT goes * Corporate tax unchanged
New Delhi, July 6
‘Aam Aadmi’ is now the focus of all out programmes and schemes, declared Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the Union Budget for 2009-10 in Parliament today. The UPA government has gone for a paradigm shift for making the development process more inclusive, Mukherjee said emphasising that it involves creating entitlements backed by legal guarantee to provide basic amenities and opportunities for livelihood to vulnerable sections.

Budget Highlights Relief to the Tax Payer For & Against Editorial: An ‘aam aadmi’ budget Business page: Daring, job well done, says India Inc Sensex tanks 869 points More in Budget page Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee holds the ‘Budget’ briefcase as he arrives at Parliament in New Delhi on Monday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Higher studies get addl Rs 2,000 cr
New Delhi, July 6
The government today set the ball rolling for reforms in higher education by increasing the budgetary allocation for the sector to Rs 9,600 crore, up by Rs 2,000 crore from the outlay in the Interim Budget presented earlier this year.

Nothing for growth, say biz houses
Chandigarh, July 6
The Budget fails to give any direction for industrial growth, say corporates in the region. Though this Budget shows the way for initiating tax reforms in a phased manner, the industry is upset at no major relief being announced it to stimulate growth.

One Rank, One Pension
Troops cheer, officers feel left out
Chandigarh, July 6
The announcement of a new system in the Union Budget for parity in pensions for defence personnel is welcome news for the troops, but it has left the officer cadre fuming.

PM for quick return to 8-9% growth
New Delhi, July 6
Complimenting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for presenting a “rural development oriented” budget, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said his government was working towards attaining 7 per cent growth this year.

Budget draws flak from Oppn
New Delhi, July 6
The ruling Congress party described the budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today as “progressive, inclusive, growth oriented and balanced”, but the opposition as well as parties supporting the government from outside termed it as “routine’, and “inconsequential” and said it had failed to address economic challenges.

A Tribune Investigation Homes Without Care-II Where lives never change Faridabad, July 6 It’s 7 am and all boys have fallen in line for the morning assembly at the observation home. After the prayers and the breakfast, it’s study time at the home where 50 per cent of the 66 boys are illiterate. For a few who want to study, there are no teachers.