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

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