25 Feb , 2021 By : Admin
Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance Minister) on Thursday said the government's privatisation policy of bare minimum public sector presence will mean that the remaining state-owned companies are scaled up and large with a significant presence in their areas of operation.
“In the sense, even if there are one or two or three (PSUs)...it will be a public sector undertaking of a good solid presence,” Sitharaman said during an ongoing conference hosted by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
She also expressed confidence that the government will be able to meet the Rs 1.75 lakh-crore disinvestment target set in the FY22 budget. “Now, when the appetite is probably better...I've come up with a realistic number. I've not given an overestimated number, so I'm sure to achieve it,” she said.
Fuel tax
Some relief may come in near term amidst increasing fuel prices, as state & centre may reduce Fuel Tax soon.
“There's just no hiding the fact that there is revenue there (fuel tax),” she said. “But it's no longer competitive for anyone to say, ‘Centre, you reduce first, then the states will come on board’.”
The Centre and the states would have to meet and discuss any action on this matter, the minister said. “If eventually you want the consumers not to be bearing so much of a burden on this score, it is both the Centre and the states which will have to talk,” she said. “So, when are you going to talk? Yes, I concede that's where action has to be (taken) and let's see what we can do about it.”
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