Union Budget: 'Minority welfare funds slashed by 38%', says Shabbir Ali
He alleged that the BJP government at the centre is crushing the minorities socially, educationally and economically by curtailing funds for their welfare.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 1 Feb 2023 9:45 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Former Minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has strongly condemned the union government for slashing the funds by over 38 percent in the union budget for welfare of minorities.
The union budget 2023-24 was presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha.
Shabbir Ali says, "The allocation for minorities welfare is reduced from Rs. 5,020.50 Crore in 2022-23 to Rs. 3,097.60 Crore in 2023-24. There is a cut of Rs 1,922.90 Crore or nearly 38%. Is this the reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'?"
He alleged that the BJP government at the centre is crushing the minorities socially, educationally and economically by curtailing funds for their welfare. Shabbir Ali said Modi Govt has been systematically targeting the schemes meant for the economic and educational empowerment of minorities.
Point out the list:
* Scrapping of Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities for students of Classes 1-8 has affected lakhs of poor students.
* Nai Udaan Scheme, meant to help minority candidates prepare for the preliminary examinations conducted by the Union and State Public Services Commissions, was also scrapped.
* The Maulana Azad National Fellowship for higher education too was scrapped in December last year.
* In the budget for 2023-24, the Modi Govt has reduced the budget for schemes under Skill Development and Livelihoods from Rs. 491.91 Crore in 2022-23 to just Rs. 64.40 crores in 2023-24, a cut by nearly 83%.
* Allocations have been reduced for Nai Manzil - the Integrated Educational and Livelihood Initiative (from Rs. 46 Cr to Rs. 10 Lakh)
* Upgrading Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) from Rs. 47 Cr to Rs. 10 Lakh
* Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women from Rs. 2.50 Cr to Rs. 10 Lakh.
* Equity contribution to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has been reduced from Rs. 159 crores in 2022-23 to just Rs. 61 crores in 2023-24.
"PM Modi talks about 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas' and he plans to achieve it by targeting the minorities by slashing budget allocations for their welfare and upliftment schemes. This is injustice and not acceptable," he said.
