July 25, 2024
Samirul Islam’s speech on the Union Budget for 2024-25
Madam, to say in one sentence, this Budget is anti-people, anti-poor and anti-Bengali. This is the Budget that deprived Bengal of Rs. 1,71,000 crore, which is pending from the Union Government. But it didn’t say a single word about it. In this Budget, we have seen how it has become a budget for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. It is not the Union Budget; it is a Budget to satisfy the ally constituents to save the Government only. We don’t have any problem if the Union Government gives something to other States, but why have they deprived Bengal? It is painful to see how this Budget has ignored the underprivileged in our country, especially those in the unorganised sectors. They are neglected in this Budget. This Budget has failed to address the needs of the unorganised sector workers who are 43.39 crore, according to the Economic Survey 2021-22. Sir, 83 per cent of India’s workforce is employed in unorganised sector and my concern lies here. The Government often doubts the registration of workers on the eSHRAM portal and Pradhan Mantri Yojana to deflect criticism from Opposition Members of this august House. However, the Government’s action repeatedly has demonstrated lack of concern for unorganised sector workers. Just before the Budget was presented, the Supreme Court criticised the delay in verifying migrant workers registration on the e-SHRAM portal for the issuance of ration cards. I would like to know when this task would reach a substantial stage. It is disheartening that the Court had to remind us about the plight of migrant workers who are a vital part of the unorganised sector. Government’s own NSO Report has revealed that unincorporated enterprises in the manufacturing sector lost some 5.4 million jobs from the middle of 2015-16 to 2022-23 and that 1.8 million establishments were lost. In contrast, West Bengal is the only State to have established a Migrant Workers’ Welfare Board under the leadership of our hon. Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, dedicated to the development of those who toil with honesty. My demand is simple and clear. Why couldn’t the Union Government announce a similar National Migrant Workers’ Welfare Board for the migrant workers in this Budget? Hundreds of migrant workers die in workplace accidents or during their travels, yet this Budget has failed to announce a comprehensive insurance scheme to support their families. At a time when inflation is a major issue and a constraint for the survival of the poor, the Government should have announced a project to aid migrant workers in child education and healthcare. According to the Census data of 2011, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the highest number of migrant workers, with a combined total of approximately 239 million workers. However, the Union Government, currently, lacks accurate data on the number of migrant workers. The Ministry of Labour and Employment initiated a nationwide review of migrant workers on April 4, 2021. The grim reality of migrant workers became painful during the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. The Finance Minister proclaimed about linking the eShram portal to other portals for workers and labourers to facilitate them in availing different services. I wonder if the Finance Minister, or her colleagues in the Cabinet, has ever spoken to any of the migrant workers. Try to understand whether registering on eShram has given them the benefit of even a single rupee so far. The Finance Minister announced r industrial rental housing with dormitory type accommodation fo workers in PPP mode with VGF support, yet the ARHC scheme launched by the Union Government in the aftermath of Covid- 19 for migrant workers in cities has failed miserably and has not found any takers from the private sector .This is only lip service and just an eye wash. Apart from the migrant workers, crores of people are involved in unorganized sector, agriculture and the MSME sector. After the Budget, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, said that this Budget the MSME sector . Unfortunately, this would help in propsering Government did not favour those small, medium and micro entrepreneurs. This Government has systematically ruined the MSME sector during the past ten years under Narendra Modi regime. I am proud to come from Bengal, which, in the last ten years, has always been in the top d a burden of GST on the MSME sector and disbursement methods have been so designed as to discourage medium , small and micro level investors. In th is Budget , we did not see any announcement to promote the MSME sector. When unemployment became the prime constraint of development in PM Modi’s regime, the systematic destruction of the MSME sector ensured another step to worsen the problem of unemployment. It is vital to reiterate that not only migrant workers, but this Budget also failed to outline any benefit for tribal people, dalits, SCs and minority communities. Recently, a BJP MLA in Bengal, the LoP, suggested abandoning the PM’s slogan, “Sabka saath Sabka vikas”and replacing it with “Jo hamara saath hum unke saath” This is the real face of BJP. He has revealed the hidden agenda of the Government, which aims at undermining India’s fabric, depriving minorities, SCs, STs, dalits and all the marginalized sections of the society in our country. This Budget did not announce anything related to welfare of the minority communities. I urge the Government to introduce a fresh and new scheme for minority communities. The Finance Minister did not utter a single word on minority welfare in her speech, nor has she announced any special measure for education, skilling, employment or livelihood of minority communities. The Budget allocation for the pre-matric scholarship has been reduced from Rs.400 crores to Rs.326 crores. Over the last few years, the Union Government’s only focus is to change the names of the Central schemes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. After the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, this time, the Finance Minister has announced the launch the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan. I want to ask the Union Government as to what has been the outcome of the previous schemes which meant for the tribal welfare. Surely, your colleagues in Madhya Pradesh have shown the way and diverted crores of rupees of Government funds meant for tribal welfare to construction of cowsheds and gaushalas. Sir, I am a young Indian of 37 years living in Bengal. I am absolutely sure that our great nation will keep the divisive and destructive forces out, just like what we did on June 4, 2024. Thank you.
