Union budget takes 'no steps' to address alarming inequality, enhance redistribution

By Raj Shekhar* 

The Right to Food Campaign has expressed its deep disappointment that in the budget announcement for 2024-25 rather than enhancing spending in the critical area of food security, the budget has either remained stagnant or has declined. 

The budget estimate for the food subsidy under the National Food Security Act for Financial Year (FY) 2024-25 is Rs. 2.05 lakh crore which is 3.3% less than the revised estimates for the previous financial year. When by all accounts, it is clear that the country is facing a major crisis of malnutrition and food insecurity, it is indeed shocking that the food subsidy budget has been cut.

The POSHAN (school mid-day meal) scheme sees a slight increase from BE 2023-24 of ₹11,600 crores to ₹12,467 crores (this is however less than the actual expenditure on this scheme in 2022-23 of ₹12,681 crores). 

The Saksham Anganwadi scheme for children under six years, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls, also sees a decrease and gets a budgetary allocation of ₹21,200 crore (RE 2023-24 was ₹21,523 crores). 

Samarthya which includes maternity entitlements (Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, PMMVY) and the creche schemes sees a reduction in its allocation to ₹2,517 crores compared to BE 2023-24 of ₹2,582 crores.

The Union Budget has once again failed to address the rural distress. The allocations for the MGNREGA is the same as the revised estimates for last year. The Budget has neglected the long-standing demands of the farmers for MSP at C2+50% with guaranteed procurement. This has been a strong demand for the Right to Food Campaign as well for many years in support of farmers in their struggle.

One is shocked at the apathy and uncaring attitude of the government towards people, especially those most in need of food and nutrition support. Rather than dismissing reports highlighting the ground reality of hunger and malnutrition and spending time and resources to counter them, the government should acknowledge the problems and enhance food security provisions. 

The government has failed to include any measures to address the alarming levels of inequality in the country and continues to be anti-poor and pro-corporate.

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*Secretariat, Right to Food Campaign