'Looking to see what benefits Kerala gets': Tharoor ahead of Budget presentation

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said the Union Budget would be closely watched for measures to translate projected economic growth into employment, stressing that growth without jobs would not benefit the country’s youth.

“We are all looking forward to hearing what the finance minister has to tell us. The Economic Survey projects good economic growth… Whether that growth is going to be accompanied by jobs?” Tharoor said ahead of the Budget presentation.




“Jobless growth doesn’t help anyone. So, we are anxious to see what kind of schemes they have in mind to generate more jobs in this country for young people of India,” he added.

Tharoor said employment generation would be a key expectation from the Budget, particularly at a time when the Economic Survey has flagged robust growth prospects.

Apart from jobs, the Congress MP said states would also be looking closely at what the Centre offers in the Budget. Referring to Kerala, Tharoor noted that political considerations would add to expectations.

“We in Kerala, with an election coming up, are looking to see what benefits the Central government might give us,” he said.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget amid expectations of policy measures aimed at sustaining growth while addressing employment concerns, and reforms.

For the first time, the Union Budget would be presented on a Sunday, this would mark Sithramana’s record ninth consecutive Budget presentation. Budget speech would begin at 11.00 am.
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