Gujarat state budget shows govt doesn&#39;t believe in &#39;sabka sath sabka vishwas&#39;

Gujarat state budget shows govt doesn't believe in 'sabka sath sabka vishwas'

By Mujahid Nafees*
In the budget for the year 2023-24 presented by the Gujarat government, only 0.024% of the budget is for the welfare of 11.5% minorities. The budget is disappointing for Gujarat's most backward minority community. Last year the minority participation in the budget was 0.033% and this year it is 0.024%. It suggests discriminatory behavior of the government toward minorities.
The Budget for 2023-24 was presented by the Gujarat Government in the Legislative Assembly by Finance Minister Shri Kanubhai Desai. The budget of the Gujarat government for the previous year 2022-23 was 243965 crores while for this year 2023-24, it is proposed to be 301022 crores, an increase of 57057 crores this year compared to the previous year which is a percentage increase of 23%.
A close look at the deprived sections and the large section of society in the budget makes, it clear that this government does not really believe in the Sabka sath sabka vishwas.
The budget for the welfare of minorities in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment last year was estimated at 8058.67 lakhs and the revised estimate was 6595.54 lakhs due to negligence of the government. 7399.57 lakhs has been proposed by the government this year.
This amount is only 0.024% of the total budget. Gujarat has 11.5% minority population and is very backward. Looking at this matter, it is clear that the government is discriminating against minorities and creating a hindrance to the development of this community. The percentage of provision for minorities in the last year's state budget was 0.033% and this year the percentage of the entire budget is only 0.024%. The state budget is increasing steadily and for minorities, these increases are like ornaments. In this budget, the Centre's share for Pradhan Mantri Jhan Vikas Program (PMJVK) was proposed to be 600 lakhs last year but this year it has been proposed to be reduced to 300 lakhs.
In this budget, the state share for Pradhan Mantri Jhan Vikas Program (PMJVK) was proposed to be 400 lakhs last year but this year it has been proposed to be reduced to 200 lakhs.
6600 lakhs were proposed last year for scholarships, and uniforms for students under education head of minority community in this budget, which has been reduced to 6450 lakhs this year.
In this budget, pre-matric scholarship for students in the education head of the minority community was proposed 15 lakh last year but this year it has been proposed to be reduced to 10 lakhs.
In this budget, centrally awarded post-matric scholarships for students in minority community head of education was proposed to be 15 lakhs last year but this year it has been proposed to No additional provision has been made for Minority Finance and Development Corporation.
This shows that the government is discriminating against the minority community and the government does not want the minority community to develop. Less than 10% should be allocated to the state budget according to the population.
---
Convener, Minority Coordination Committee, Gujarat

Comments

From algorithms to exploitation: New report exposes plight of India's gig workers

By Jag Jivan The recent report, "State of Finance in India Report 2024-25," released by a coalition including the Centre for Financial Accountability, Focus on the Global South, and other organizations, paints a stark picture of India's burgeoning digital economy, particularly highlighting the exploitation faced by gig workers on platform-based services.

'Condonation of war crimes against women and children’: IPSN on Trump’s Gaza Board

By A Representative The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has strongly condemned the announcement of a proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by former US President Donald J. Trump, calling it an initiative that “condones war crimes against children and women” and “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds.”

Gig workers hold online strike on republic day; nationwide protests planned on February 3

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers across the country observed a nationwide online strike on Republic Day, responding to a call given by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to protest what it described as exploitation, insecurity and denial of basic worker rights in the platform economy. The union said women gig workers led the January 26 action by switching off their work apps as a mark of protest.

India’s road to sustainability: Why alternative fuels matter beyond electric vehicles

By Suyash Gupta* India’s worsening air quality makes the shift towards clean mobility urgent. However, while electric vehicles (EVs) are central to India’s strategy, they alone cannot address the country’s diverse pollution and energy challenges.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Whither space for the marginalised in Kerala's privately-driven townships after landslides?

By Ipshita Basu, Sudheesh R.C. In the early hours of July 30 2024, a landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala state, India, killed 400 people. The Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Vellarimala and Chooralmala villages in the Western Ghats mountain range turned into a dystopian rubble of uprooted trees and debris.

Over 40% of gig workers earn below ₹15,000 a month: Economic Survey

By A Representative The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, while reviewing the Economic Survey in Parliament on Tuesday, highlighted the rapid growth of gig and platform workers in India. According to the Survey, the number of gig workers has increased from 7.7 million to around 12 million, marking a growth of about 55 percent. Their share in the overall workforce is projected to rise from 2 percent to 6.7 percent, with gig workers expected to contribute approximately ₹2.35 lakh crore to the GDP by 2030. The Survey also noted that over 40 percent of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month.

Fragmented opposition and identity politics shaping Tamil Nadu’s 2026 election battle

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* Tamil Nadu is set to go to the polls in April 2026, and the political battle lines are beginning to take shape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on January 23, 2026, marked the formal launch of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Addressing multiple public meetings, the Prime Minister accused the DMK government of corruption, criminality, and dynastic politics, and called for Tamil Nadu to be “freed from DMK’s chains.” PM Modi alleged that the DMK had turned Tamil Nadu into a drug-ridden state and betrayed public trust by governing through what he described as “Corruption, Mafia and Crime,” derisively terming it “CMC rule.” He claimed that despite making numerous promises, the DMK had failed to deliver meaningful development. He also targeted what he described as the party’s dynastic character, arguing that the government functioned primarily for the benefit of a single family a...

Search This Blog