India allocates Rs 500 cr for rehabilitation of Tamils

New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) In a special gesture, India today allocated Rs 500 crore for rehabilitation of the internally displaced ethnic Tamils and reconstruction of Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka devastated by two decades of war.

The allocation was made in the general Budget 2009-10 presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament.

While announcing the allocation, he said the government is committed to ensuring that the Sri Lankan Tamils enjoy their rights and legitimate aspirations within the territorial sovereignty and framework of the country's constitution.

He said MEA was working closely with Sri Lankan Government to ensure rehabilitation of the displaced people.

Speaking on the issue later, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said the allocation has been made as per the commitment made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

PTI

Highlights of Union Budget 2009-10

New Delhi, July 6 (PTI) Following are the highlights of Budget 2009-10.

* IT exemption limit raised

* Limit raised by Rs 15,000 for sr.citizens (65 yrs & above)

* Limit raised by Rs 10,000 for general tax payers & women

* 10% surcharge on personal income tax scrapped

* Fringe Benefit Tax, Commodities Transaction Tax abolished

* Corporate Tax unchanged; Minimum Alternate Tax hiked to 15%

* Legal services brought under Service Tax net

* Cosmetic & plastic surgery become taxable services

* Rs 3472 cr for Commonwealth Games, up from Rs 2112 cr

* LCD TVs to become cheaper; Set-Top boxes costlier

* Stimulus for print media for another six months

* Branded jewellery to become cheaper; excise duty goes

* Govt plans to bring back economy to high growth of 9%

* GDP growth dipped to 6.7% in FY'09

* Fiscal deficit up from 2.7% to 6.

Soruce:PTI