Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Love's small note

“Knock, knock” heard the voice and she asked who is at the door?
Voice came from the other side, “hey it’s me, Love, on my way to explore.


She listened to the voice, she searched for the source,
She looked hither and thither, but couldn’t get the course.


Her senses got alerted; she composed herself for the moment,
Now she was all ready to ask for the sudden appearance.


“Why are you here for?” she questioned with great force,
And she was about to get the best answer for the reason of therefore.


Few gentle words came from unknown sides,
Stating the business of the joyride.


I was always there, you just took me for granted,
You sought for the specific, my domain was quite expanded.


I was there in the sips of tea, I was there in those hell of a yippies,
I was there in those twirls of small joys, I was there in those unexpected ahoy.

I yelled at the cause of your cries, I held your hand in all your tries.
I craved for your smiles , I shivered when you went off for a while.


I was always there in my unknown special ways.
Though not typical but definitely there for a longer stay.




 

Monday, February 6, 2017

Key points for common man - Indian Budget 2017

Guest Post: Pooja Bhandari

Finance minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union Budget 2017 in Parliament on Wednesday. 
Here are the key highlights of his budget speech:

1.      Existing rate of tax for individuals between Rs.  2.5- Rs 5 lakh is reduced to 5% from 10%. All other categories of taxpayers in subsequent brackets will get a benefit of Rs 12,500.  10 % surcharge on individual income above Rs. 50 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore and 15% surcharge on individual income above Rs. 1 crore to remain.

2.   Simple one-page return for people with an annual income of Rs. 5 lakh other than business income.

3.      No transaction above Rs 3 lakh is permitted in cash. The limit of cash donation by charitable trusts is reduced to Rs 2,000 from Rs 10,000. The maximum amount of cash donation for a political party will be Rs. 2,000 from any one source.

4.  Digital India - BHIM app will unleash mobile phone revolution. The government will introduce two schemes to promote BHIM App - referral bonus for the users and cash back for the traders.

5.  The total allocation for Railways is Rs. 1,31,000 crore. No service charge on tickets booked through IRCTC. 3,500 km of railway lines to be commissioned this year up from 2,800 km last year. By 2019 all trains will have bio-toilets.

6.      Rs. 500 crore allocated for Mahila Shakthi Kendras. For pregnant women, Rs. 6000 will be transferred to each person.

7.   Over Rs 3 lakh crore will be spent for rural India MGNREGA to double farmers' income. Participation of women in MGNREGA is to be increased up to 55%.

8.   A sum of Rs. 10 lakh crore is allocated as credit to farmers, with 60 days interest waiver. NABARD fund will be increased to Rs. 40,000 crore. 

9.      Two new AIIMS in Jharkhand and Gujarat.

10.  The holding period for long-term capital gain lowered to two years. Capital gains tax to be exempted for people holding land from which land was pooled for creation of the state capital of Andhra Pradesh.


11.  The government proposes to reduce basic customs duty for LNG to 2.5% from 5%.