Both the Dalit Bahujan Sramika Union (DBSU) and National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) alleged that the Union Budget presented in the Parliament on 1st of this month, has discriminated Dalit Adivasis.
The Central Government’s estimated budget for 2025-26 is 54,96,936 crores, of which 15,75,988 crores have been allocated for various welfare schemes. As per the instructions of NITI Aayog, while Rs. 2,30,132 crores should have been allocated to SCs according to the population ratio, but only Rs. 1,68,478 crores have been allocated and they have wrung their hands.
Releasing the Budget Analysis Report, DBSU AP state secretary P Chittibabu said that in this allocated budget, only Rs. 62,150 crores were given to schemes that directly benefit the people and the rest of the funds were diverted to general schemes, which is questionable for the welfare of Dalit and Adivasi people in developed India.
Out of the Rs. 1,29,250 crores allocated to STs, only Rs. 51,492 crores were given to schemes that directly benefit the STs and the rest of the funds were allocated to general schemes. Rs. 15,430 crores were allocated in the ST budget for highways and other structures that are not directly beneficial to the STs.
The funds allocated for the implementation of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act were reduced to Rs. 463 crores compared to the previous year. These funds are not allocated in line with the increasing atrocities and the cases pending in various courts. The post-matric scholarship has been reduced to Rs 5900 crores compared to last year.
Chittibabu lamented that it is unfortunate that the National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation has been allocated zero point zero in court. The employment guarantee scheme has been increased by Rs 976 crores more than last year. This is not enough to reduce rural unemployment and prevent the employment of laborers.
Moreover, Chittibabu pointed out that especially Bihar has been given a bonanza in the budget and Andhra Pradesh has been shown a stiff hand. There is no mention of metro lines for Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. There is no mention of new industries. There is no mention of core fund assistance for Amaravati, Polavaram and the steel plant, except for loans.
There are no specific measures for the implementation of the bifurcation guarantees in this budget. It is sad that a special package is not seen for the development of North Andhra. Therefore, he demanded that these budget estimates be revised and steps be taken to help the poor, Dalits and tribals in economic development.
