"It is a progressive budget yet a populist budget," Says Vijay K. Thadani, Vice Chairman And Managing Director, NIIT

In an exclusive interview with BW Businessworld, Vijay K. Thadani, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, NIIT, shares his views on the Budget introduced on February 1st. Edited excerpts:

There will be a BW Report Card – On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate the budget?

I would rate it 8.

Do you think it is a populist budget?

It is a progressive budget yet a populist budget. It is not compromising on progress at the cost of populism. That’s what I think is the best part. Secondly, there are some very positive measures on education, which is the sector I come from apart from (measures) on skills, healthcare. For the common man, there are lots and lots of benefits. As a senior citizen, I am also very happy to see some small benefits from us which is not bad. Education, I believe, creates a very strong foundation of the country. There is a very strong emphasis on modernization (of healthcare), quality, usage of technology, etc, changing pedagogy, teacher training infrastructure, which is shaking it up from the roots. I think those are some very positive measures.

Is the employment issue adequately addressed in the Union Budget?

If you see the sum of all the parts, it will definitely create jobs. If you ask me where are the two marks? The specific mention of jobs and how the two will get added up. The two major question one asks is Do I get a job or will I retain my job. If they add up the parts which others have to do, it will definitely contribute to a better employment scenario than it is today.

Is the rural distress/ agriculture crisis adequately addressed in the Budget?

I would say quite adequately. Even though I am not an expert, going by the content analysis, one-third of the budget was talking about agri and rural sectors. So I am sure they are all good and positively received.

What more could have been done in the budget?

I feel that (there could have been) an additional emphasis on job creation with a stronger statement which summed up the parts.  Second was a specific focus on startups because they are the future of the country in terms of job creation. While there was something for everybody. Nobody can say I got forgotted.