SME Times News Bureau | 21 May, 2019
Economist
and author Surjit Bhalla on Monday said
that the agenda for the new government should include elimination of government
intervention in agriculture sector, reforming labour laws and lowering the cost of
capital through reduction in interest rate and corporate tax.
Speaking at FICCI National Executive Committee Meeting, Bhalla said that
the first thing the new government should do is free up agriculture sector as
every developing country in the world has first reformed its agriculture
sector.
"We have got too much intervention by the
government in agriculture," he said. While advocating elimination of MSP and
PDS, he recommended expanding the income support system to the farmers.
Bhalla further suggested major cut in corporate tax
by about 500 basis points across the board reducing the cost of capital which
is one of the highest in the world.
Sandip
Somany, President, FICCI said that the priority of
the new government should be to bring back the economy on the high growth
trajectory.
"The next government
will have to plan for a robust reforms agenda that would not only boost
consumer sentiment but will also create conditions for higher private sector
investments and exports," he added.
Delivering the vote of
thanks, Sangita Reddy, Senior
Vice President, FICCI expressed hope that the new government would
take corrective measures to boost the economy.
In
another NECM session on 'India's Elections: Journey/Verdict', Dr Prannoy Roy, Founder and Executive
Co-Chairperson, NDTV noted that the country witnessed higher number of women
voters compared to men in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections for the first
time.