the richest 10 %. The poorest 670 million Indians , who make up half the population , saw only a 1 % increase in wealth . The number of starving Indians has increased from 19 crore to 35 crore . The income of majority people has halved during this period . Between 2018 and 2019 , the wealth of the rich increased dramatically while the living standards of marginalized communities including Dalits , tribals , Muslims , women and informal sector workers suffered . The report urged India ’ s finance minister to impose a wealth tax on the super-rich to address this alarming disparity . Taxing the super-rich is essential to reduce inequality and revitalize democracy , the report added . In 2022 , the combined wealth of India ’ s 100 super -rich reached around $ 660 billion . At the same time , a significant share of the country ’ s tax revenue is paid by the poor and the middle class .’
The budget states that they have supplied free ration to 80 crore people and on the other , claims that due to their policies , 25 crore people could come out from the Multi-Dimensional poverty . Surely it will embarrass the poor . Agriculture :
The subsidies given to the farmers , who make up half of the country ’ s population , have been cut . As part of the IMF ’ s World Bank recommendation to eliminate subsidies completely , Finance Minister has taken special care like an obedient child to cut subsidies in every budget . 27.1 % in 2022-23 and 28 % in 2023-24 . The budget estimates cut subsidies by 3 % and 7 % in 2024-25 . 242836 crores in 2021-22 , the food subsidy has come down to 206831 crores in 2022-23 . 27.1 % decrease . In 2023-24 it has come down to 197350 crores . 28.3 % decrease . But in the revised budget it increased to 212332 crores . 205,250 crore , a reduction of 3.3 % from this in this year ’ s budget .
Fertilizer subsidy for farmers has also been cut . 24.9 % in 2022-23 ,
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22.3 % in 2023-24 and 13.2 % in 2024-2025 to 225,220 crores , 175,100 crores and 164,000 crores respectively . Those who had promised to increase farmers ’ income by 2 times in manifesto even cut the existing subsidy . According to the National Crime Record Bureau , 11290 farmers commit suicide till December 2023- 24 . The farmers have defeated the new agriculture law brought by the Modi government to completely corporatize the agriculture sector through a sacrificial agitation . The government was not ready to follow any of the proposals accepted by the government as part of the settlement of the strike . The government ’ s promise of a minimum support price for agricultural produce was dashed and even the APMCs were deactivated . The farmers of the country are in great distress . There is no proposal in the budget to consider the demand of farmers to comply with settlement proposals . Unemployment :
Government data and surveys by international agencies say that unemployment in the country is severe . The 2014 NDA manifesto promised to create 2 crore jobs annually . But by 2019 , unemployment had risen to unprecedented levels in India ’ s history . The 2019 election manifesto did not make any promises to address unemployment . Instead , the manifesto promised to complete the Ram Temple , implement the Citizenship Amendment Act , implement the Uniform Civil Code , and cancel the special rights for Kashmir in relation to the Hindutva agenda . There is increase in the Unemployment . The combination of demonetisation and the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated unemployment in the country . Unemployment rose from 5.27 percent in 2019 to 7.11 percent in 2020 for the first time in its 29- year history . More than 75 lakh people fell into extreme poverty during this period . Even then , the government did not come up with any proposal to solve unemployment . As of
December 2023 , the unemployment rate has increased to 8.65 %. When unemployment increases , the Purchasing Power Parity ( PPP ) of the people will naturally decrease . There is no proposal in this interim budget to address unemployment . Education and Health :
It is known to all that the National Education Policy , 2020 will deny education to majority . The Right to Education will be realised only when the public education system is strengthened . No budget proposal is there in this direction .
In the country where tens of thousands have died due to covid without getting adequate treatment , only 2000 crore rupees more than the last budget has been allocated to the health sector . The education budget which was 38953 crores in the last budget has reduced to 38183 crores .
The budget proposes that free Cervical Cancer Vaccination will be given to 9-14 age group girls and Ayushman Bharat insurance Scheme will be extended to ASHA workers , Anganwadi workers and helpers . The public health system destroyed . The entire health sector is corporatised strongly . Majority people are denied to health services . The denial of education and health to the majority will strongly be continued in the entire period of ‘ Amrit Kaal ’. Thus , India will become “ Viksit Bharat ” in 2047 . Global Economic Recession :
The Global economic recession is intensifying . The value of US dollar is appreciating . The value of Indian Rupee is depreciating . There is rapid rise in the unemployment and prices . Labour exploitation will increase rapidly . The Global trade is on the decline . Our economy is closely connected with the Global value chain . The government is consciously forgetting all these issues and states that the economic recession in US will not show any impact on India .
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Class Struggle