Yes, the budget speech is over, and I am incensed, so here goes the disclaimer:

If you're not interested in a heartfelt rant this is not for you, leave now, please.

Are you a middle-class salaried Indian? Let me be more clear. Are you one of the billions who spend everyday working routine or not so routine jobs with one hope of transcending multiple levels of middle-class that exist in your country, only to feel neglected and not so important by your government? Well, my friend - you're not alone.

BCCL

For two excruciatingly long years, I have been waiting to give you some good news on a budget day and well, the wait just got longer. Mr Jaitely in his speech - which was to the delight of no one, loaded with Hindi couplets - has almost clearly spelt out that a tax-paying salaried Indian who is not close to lower income groups is of no specific importance to the government.

To sum up the majority of taxes that affect your daily life remains unchanged. And so does the tax brackets, well almost.

The FM had announced the reduction in taxation in one slab - the Rs 2,50,000 to Rs 5,00,000 one - and that gives a uniform respite of Rs 12,500 to anyone earning above 5 lakhs but the question is - is it enough?

Quartz

Maybe it is for the guy on top, but not for me or my generation of millennials, who strive hard to earn more and increase our standard of living!

The whole Indian middle-class was waiting with baited breath for this budget - which was coming up after a tumultuous time where demonetisation literally tested our patience to a point of almost no-return!

There was hope that the government will pass on the supposed benefits that it reaped by putting us through hell to us.

But we were really wrong. The budget was at best mediocre and even disappointing for many of us who were expecting some major relief.

For starters, there is no major clarity on things getting cheaper - cars, mobiles, gadgets. Nothing is clear yet, mobile circuit boards are getting costlier though and so mobiles may get costlier too. Some of my friends are sad that cigarettes and tobacco will be costlier too.

But the main gripe remains that the tax slabs have remained almost the same. Consider this, the FM himself pointed out that the number of tax-payers in the country makes up less than one percent of the population and the salaried portion of this is even lower. But it's also true that the salaried portion bears the brunt of direct taxation.

Look at the tax slabs, the more you earn and higher you climb up the corporate ladder, more is the percentage of income you pay tax. the rates increase by 10 per cent on each slab and then there are the cess and surcharges.

Shouldn't this be inverted to encourage more people to disclose their real income?

Also, the limit for allowances like transport and medical remain so grossly mismatched. In which Indian city can you commute with a monthly travel allowance of Rs 1,600 - if you drive, take the cab or even a bike? And Rs 15,000 in medical? seriously?

What does Rs 12,500 in exemption mean to someone who earns 9.5 lakhs an annum and who otherwise pays Rs 1,02,500 as income tax?

He can save another 30,000 here but for that he will have to invest Rs 1,50,000 in tax saving instruments which may not yield the best returns (read LIC).

It hurts more because all around expectations were rife about a new -more up to pace with time - kind of tax slabs structure with a revised limit for savings and allowances. It was supposed to be an invitation for all those who avoided tax ambit to join the fray and expand the tax base and ease the pressure off the middle and higher sections of the middle class who were strained the most and who contribute the most in taxes.

But no! The respite was only meant for the lowest strata of middle-class who are closest to the favourite vote bank of the political machinery aka the poor!

So this budget was just like the last one. None of the things you wanted is cheaper, you don't have more avenues to save and your tax savings stands at just Rs 12,500.

What is the point of having great roads by my village, if I can't afford a car and fuel for it to drive from my pot-hole ridden city road to them?

I love my country and would happily contribute, but why am I the only one who is burdened with unfair taxation.

I am already paying vat on all things I buy and service tax on all services I consume - including food!

In the end, I can say that he did try to save me Rs 60 on train tickets by removing service charges on IRCTC bookings but for that I will have to start travelling in trains again which will cost me more in terms of work hours.

Rich farmers are still exempt, while rich folk will flinch but shell out more as punishment for having money in a developing country. And next time you are confused about how important you're to your country remember that at least your govt doesn't give a shit about you!