Govt of India 'hugely underutilising' funds meant for major working class schemes

By Bharat Dogra*
Fund utilization data for the first ten and a half months of the financial year 2022-23 show that several important welfare schemes of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, were lagging far behind expectations due to poor utilization of funds. This data is available up to 13 February 2023.
For Labour Welfare Scheme the Budget Estimate (BE) or original allocation in 2022-23 was Rs 120 crore but the actual expenditure up to 13 February was only Rs 36 crore. The allocation for 2023-24 at Rs 75 crore is also less than the previous year.
In the case of the National Data Base of Unorganized Sector Workers, the BE for 2022-23 was Rs 500 crore but only 120 crore was utilized. The BE for 2023-24 at Rs 300 crore is also lower than the previous year.
An important scheme called Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana was allocated a sum of Rs 6,400 crore but actual expenditure up to 13 February 2023 was only Rs 4,188 crore while the allocation for 2023-24 is very low at Rs 2,272 crore.
In the case of an important social security scheme called Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Man Dhan Yojana Rs 350 crore was allocated but the actual expenditure in the first 10 months was only Rs 93 crore.
A sum of only Rs 10 crore was allocated for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labor but the spending was lower still at Rs 4.8 crore.

There is need for much more work to be taken up aimed at reducing occupational health problems

For the National Pension Scheme for Self-Employed Persons and Shopkeepers a sum of Rs 50 crore was allocated but just a token sum of Rs 2 lakh was spent. In the next year 2023-24 also there is an allocation for only Rs 3 crore.
This shows that due to under-utilization several important schemes for the working class have been adversely affected. Remedial action should be taken in the very near future in this context.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment is one of the most important ministries of India with very important responsibilities. Its resource allocation should also be much higher as important new initiatives also have to be taken.

To give just one example there is need for much more work to be taken up aimed at reducing occupational health problems including occupational diseases and accidents which have been a source of immense distress for a very large number of workers. There are new challenges for many sections of workers who will be more vulnerable to climate change and global warming.
Keeping in view these and other factors there is a clear need for higher resource allocation and improved utilization.
---
*Honorary convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include ‘Protecting Earth for Children’ and ‘Man over Machine (Gandhiji’s Legacy)’. Data source: 41st report (2022-23), 17th Lok Sabha, of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Labor, Textiles and Skills Development (report for the Ministry of Labor and Employment)

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov, the artist who survived Stalin's cultural purges

By Harsh Thakor* Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov (September 14, 1885 – April 20, 1964) was a Soviet artist, professor, academician, and teacher. His work was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize, the highest artistic honour of the USSR. His paintings traced the development of socialist realism in the visual arts while retaining qualities drawn from impressionism. Gerasimov reconciled a lyrical approach to nature with the demands of Soviet socialist ideology.

Development at what cost? The budget's blind spot for the environment

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The historical ills in the relationship between capital and the environment have now manifested in areas commonly referred to as the "environmental crisis." This includes global warming, the destruction of the ozone layer, the devastation of tropical forests, mass mortality of fish, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, poison seeping into the atmosphere and food, desertification, shrinking water supplies, lack of clean water, and radioactive pollution.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

Public money, private profits: Crop insurance scheme as goldmine for corporates

By Vikas Meshram The farmer in India is not merely a food provider; he is the soul of the nation. For centuries, enduring natural calamities and bearing debt generation after generation while remaining loyal to the soil, this community now finds itself trapped in a different kind of crisis. In February 2016, the Modi government launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) with the stated objective of freeing farmers from the shackles of debt. It was an ambitious attempt to provide a strong safety net to cultivators repeatedly devastated by excessive rainfall, drought, and hailstorms.

Search This Blog