By Sumaya Junaid Ahmed
NEW DELHI—The Union Budget 2024-25 has significantly reduced the allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) to Rs 3,183.24 crore, which forms just 0.0660% of the total budget. This marks a substantial decrease from previous years, where the allocations were Rs 4,810.77 crore in 2021-22, Rs 5,020.50 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 3,097.60 crore in 2023-24.
Speaking at an event organized by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind here on Saturday, Dr. Javed Alam, Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies and Advocacy (IPSA), expressed disappointment and reflected on the implications of these cuts. He stressed that budget allocations are political decisions that reflect the government’s priorities. He noticed a shift in concentration toward specific states, demonstrating the budget’s political aspect.
He said the slashing of the minority affairs’ budget puts a question mark on the commitment of the BJP-led NDA government toward the development of minorities.
Dr. Alam warned that if the BJP came into power with a full majority in future elections, there might be drastic policy changes, involving the dissolution of the Ministry of Minority Affairs and withdrawal of fellowship schemes, which are quite necessary for Muslim students. He said that these programmes are crucial for the community as they play a significant role in extending support for education and skill development among minorities.
The budget also has an eye on economic initiatives, such as employment-linked schemes and collaborations with the corporate sector. Union Budget allocated Rs 12,000 crore to the Ministries of Corporate Affairs and Labour and Employment for accelerating generation of employment through synchronized ministry efforts in the 2024-25 financial year.
He outlined the budget’s impact on minority welfare programmes, highlighting problems such as obsolete parental income limitations and fixed quotas for scholarships that have not been updated in years. He asked minority stakeholders to take a practical approach to addressing budget discrepancies, including engaging in talks, shaping public opinion, and pressuring the government to achieve fair development for marginalized communities.
The keynote speech did an elaborate review of the Union Budget 2024-25, with emphasis on political choices underlying the budgetary allocations and how this impacts minorities. Dr. Alam added that at a minimum, advocacy and scrutiny must be continued further if this budget has to work for every citizen, particularly the marginalized.
