Economists have expressed disappointment with Finance Minister P Chidambaram's Budget and said they had expected bold measures from him to curb inflation and unemployment.
They termed Budget 2007-08 as "conservative rather than ambitious" and not equipped to control the problems faced by the agriculture sector.
"I was expecting bold measures given the buoyancy in the tax revenue. Iit is a conservative budget rather than ambitious," B B Bhattacharya, vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, told PTI.
Noted economist Jayati Ghosh said Chidambaram could have increased the tax revenue to take advantage of a bullish economy and high corporate profits. However, taxes had been lowered in various categories.
The country is facing mainly four problems -- price rise, poor agricultural performance, employment and nutrition -- and the Budget could have been used effectively to address these problems, she said, while welcoming the increase in dividend distribution tax and ban on futures trading.
RIS director general Nagesh Kumar said the Budget had met overall expectation of people as it was designed to help in sustaining the growth momentum.
"The agrarian sector needed to be stimulated and the Budget provides for improved rural credit, irrigation facilities and revival of extension centres among other programmes. These can facilitate another green revolution," Kumar said.
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