Youth in the state feel the foremost thrust should be on job creation and civic infrastructure development. They said the state govt fell short in addressing the challenges of urbanisation that the cities are facing. Equally important is the priority of ease of living and doing business that they expect from the Budget.Lucky Chaudhury, a data entry operator in an accountancy firm, said, “Salaries are meagre. The talent pool is so huge that I cannot bargain for a better salary. Neither can I save enough to go for a skill upgradation, nor are there any relevant govt-supported programmes where I can enrol.”Skill development, start-up support, and apprenticeship incentives are seen as critical to bridging the gap between education and employment. Govt recruitment drives are limited, said Chaudhury.Though farmers expect higher allocations for irrigation and crop support, they are also sceptical of the Budget promises. “While the govt announces irrigation schemes, much of it remains in the Budget documents,” said the representative of an NGO.Healthcare and education remain areas of concern. Civil society groups expect enhanced spending on primary healthcare, maternal and child welfare, and school infrastructure. But the recent incidents of school buildings collapsing, causing tragic deaths, remind that all is not well with allocations and implementation.“Budgetary fund availability is the first step; next comes implementation. The state is lagging on both fronts,” said a schoolteacher preferring anonymity.Budget analysts said that the state’s precarious financial condition does not allow it to splurge on freebies, but it must expand spending on sectors like health, education, and civic amenities, while not losing priority on asset creation, which is crucial to generate economic activity.
