Union Budget has the potential to catalyse development with focus on rural development, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, say speakers at a meet

Chartered accountants V. Bhagyateja and Gopi Devarakonda at a meeting organised on the Union Budget in Tirupati on Sunday. PRSI president K. Srinivasa Rao and Secretary D. Chandramohan are seen.
| Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

Speakers at the ‘Discussion on annual budget 2025’ organised by the Tirupati chapter of Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) here on Sunday hailed the Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as having the potential to catalyse development.

Chartered accountants Gopi Devarakonda and V. Bhagyateja recalled that the budget had aimed at increasing India’s GDP and transforming the country into a developed nation. “The budget focuses on rural development, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, which are crucial for the country’s growth”, said Mr. Gopi, who is also the Chief Accounts Officer of Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS).

He listed out the scores of tax reforms introduced in the budget, including changes in income tax slabs, which he said would promote growth, and hailed the initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation.

Analysing the budget from the perspective of the middle class, Mr. Bhagyateja hailed the relief in income tax and the way it promotes affordable housing. “The significant allocation of funds to healthcare, education and infrastructure paves the way for overall development”, he added.

PRSI Tirupati chapter Chairman K. Srinivasa Rao said the lively and engaging discussion helped the common man understand the implications of the budget. Secretary D. Chandramohan, treasurer Chakravarthy Raghavan, executive members RCK Raju, former chairpersons C. Swarajyalakshmi, N.B. Sudhakar Reddy and national council member N.B. Harshavardhan Reddy took part.

MPs’ response

Meanwhile, Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy hailed the Union Budget as inclusive and ‘pro-Andhra Pradesh’ in its approach.

He called the decision to make personal income up to ₹12.75 lakh as virtually tax-free as ‘bold’ bringing cheer to the sections neglected for long. While hailing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for extracting promises for the State, Mr. Prabhakar Reddy pointed to the allocations made to Polavaram project (₹5,936 crore), Vizag steel plant (₹3,295 crore), Vizag port (₹730 crore), Zero Budget Natural Farming (₹186 crore), health infrastructure (₹162 crore) etc.

‘Raw deal’

On the other hand, Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy said the budget meted out a ‘raw deal’ to the State and flayed the NDA parties in the State of having failed to extract its pound of flesh.

“Bihar succeeded in getting more than its due, where our leaders failed”, he said wryly, pointing to the allocations made to Bihar for Makhana production, processing and marketing.



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