Budget disappointing, offers no relief from price hike, unemployment: Congress | Ahmedabad News
Budget disappointing, offers no relief from price hike, unemployment: Congress | Ahmedabad News
The state Congress on Friday termed the 2024-25 state Budget as “disappointing”, saying it did not offer any relief to the common people from price hike and unemployment.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Amit Chavda claimed the BJP government has allocated only Rs 250 crore for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities. “Though SC, ST, OBCs and minorities form nearly 82 per cent of Gujarat’s population, this government allocated just Rs 250 crore, out of the total outlay of over Rs 3.32 lakh crore, to those boards and corporations which were formed for the welfare of these communities,” he said.
“What is the point of organising government events while going into debt and not giving any relief to people even when the incomes rose as did the debts?” Chavda said in a statement.
He added that as per the government’s own claim, public debt is due to rise by Rs 50,000 crore by end of 2024-25 and will raise the interest burden of the government to Rs 35,000 crore.
Criticising the budget for being “discriminatory”, Chavda said the social justice and empowerment department had been allocated “merely Rs 250 crore while the Bin-Anamat Aayog (commission for unreserved sections) had got an allocation of Rs 600 crore in the Budget”.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, meanwhile, termed the Budget as a step aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047 through sustainable development.
Patel said the budget has focused on societal development, including the upliftment of the underprivileged, youths, farmers, and women. “The budget is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 though sustainable development,” the Chief Minister. Patel said his government is setting an example of prudent financial management.
“The state has historically low public debt. The accounts for the fiscal year 2022-23 have been finalised, showing that Gujarat’s total debt stands at 15.17 per cent of GSDP. This marks the lowest debt level in the past decade, positioning Gujarat among the top three states in the country with the lowest debt burden,” Patel maintained.
Finance Minister Kanu Desai, addressing the media later in the day, said the Gujarat government has already implemented a scheme of providing free LPG cylinders twice a year to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna. “Thus, giving two cylinders free every year is as good as providing one cylinder for Rs 450,” Desai argued.
