There is no glut in the farming sector. We call ourselves self-reliant in food, by keeping 50 per cent of the population below the poverty line, and keeping them half hungry. Labour laws have made retrenchment easy and just cushion consequent social unrest. The government is offering a one-year unemployment allowance to those who lose jobs, which is quite funny. There is a very logical continuation to what the finance minister said last year, as the government has been very obedient to World Bank strictures.
Figures show that silk exports have come down.
Garment exports have also come down. The finance minister did not mention anything about the retirement age of government employees from 60 to 58. He only spoke about downsizing six ministries, including the finance ministry, and reduction of government staff by two per cent per annum. That's what self-respecting people should think about. With this Budget, the rich will become richer and the poor poorer.