What women want from Union Budget?

As the Union government intensified its preparation to present the budget 2020-2021 on February 1, women from several walks of life in the State have come forward to demand and address their grievances by earmarking sufficient funds in the new budget outlay

The Central government needs to focus on women entrepreneurship by including incentives and freebies in its Budget. The Centre has to give impetus on skill development on par with industry-needs in a planned manner. Shivani Basiri, Budding Entrepreneur, Hanamkonda

It's time to give priority to the women entrepreneurs in the Union budget. Besides offering loans, the Centre should also think about allotting sites for the industries. Tax benefits and other incentives may lure women to enter business.

Srilatha K, MBA Faculty

Central government have to give top priority to women who engaged in self employment by providing loans , skill development programmes , motivation seminars , marketing techniques to get self sufficiency

Cheedella Manjula, Grocery shop owner, Nalgonda

I would personally like to see a focus on women entrepreneurs having more scope to flourish and women benefitting equally from India's economic growth. There should be special allowances for women which should be easily accessible, the start-up regulations should be simplified.

Shehrebanu, Author, Hyderabad

People are not able to pay the rents of shops and electricity bills since the announcement of lockdown since March 2020, in view of this Central government need to provide interest free repay loans ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for a period of 2 to 3 years to come out from the economical crisis and to run businesses smoothly .

Pilli Anjamma, shop owner, Nalgonda

the government should consider giving special reliefs to businessmen and taxpayers. There should be schemes to encourage women entrepreneurs, Make in India projects and more importantly savings schemes for entrepreneurs and homemakers to ensure financial independence.

Sudha kimtee, Chief secretary JITO Ladies Wing, Hyderabad

I am a freelance writer, author, blogger, and Youtuber. What I'm hoping from this year's budget is an increase in the exemption limit, hopefully to around Rs 5,00,000. It would be a blessing for people like me!

Sonali Dabade, Freelance writer, Hyderabad

I am expecting a tax benefit on interest payment of the home loan in the upcoming budget. For the first-time buyer of a home, the government has extended the tax benefit available to March on interest payment of the home loan but it would be helpful for a common man if the government extended it for more a year taking the pandemic into consideration.

K Akhila, Entrepreneur

we expect a reduction in basic custom duty on the raw materials like anthracite coal, metallurgical coke, coking coal, and graphite electrode in the upcoming Budget. The non-availability of these items in good quality and quantity hinders the growth of the steel industry and pushes the lives of steel industry workers behind.

CH Gowthami, Entrepreneur

In order to revive the economy, the government has to concentrate and invest over the labor oriented sectors such as agriculture, construction, infrastructure. The nation has to come up with higher spending budget compared to the past years to not just revive but to repair the damage caused and also to strengthen the economic system for the future.

Sowjanya Kothawar, principal architect, Vivogue Design Studio

The expectations from the Union budget will be reliefs for the State government. The State governments have almost worked like front line warriors for its citizens. They have faced the lash of the pandemic if not more than almost at par with the Centre .Hence all State governments are expecting more grants and subsidies from the Centre.

Shubhraa Maheshwari, Chartered Accountant Vice Chairperson, FICCI Ladies Organisation, Hyderabad

We can expect more funds for the development for the women schemes from the Union budget. Giving 70% loans with subsidy for the small scale industries and food processing industries for the SC, ST and BC women. We have a big hope on NDA government giving the priority to women

-CH Vijaya, Khammam

Women expect more friendly and supportive budget to be presented by women Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. The government should support more in education and skill enhancement area for empowering women.

Ch Shobha Rani, Asst prof, GDCW, Karimnagar

We are expecting a new budget which allots more individual loans for women. The government has given work to women organisations under the NREGS works not involved in State government.

Mandapally Uma, Social worker, Kothagudem