Social activists, such as Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar and Baba Adhav, said the Budget had brought little consolation for the toiling millions, especially the elderly poor. They also criticised the undue emphasis on getting foreign investments as the panacea for all ills.

“The experience is that even a small percentage of foreign investment leads to a large extent of foreign influence not only on the specific projects but policies,” said Patkar in a statement. She, however, welcomed the higher allocation for SCs/ STs and minorities as non-transferable.

Roy, who has been fighting for universal pension, said the sole reference to senior citizens was when Rs 150 crore was allocated for the national programme for healthcare of the elderly to be implemented in 100 districts of 21 States. “For the 1,57,000 elderly, Rs 1.5 crore is the proposed allocation per district, which when translated into per capita per annum terms, works out to a mere Rs 95 per elderly person,” Roy added.

Adhav and Roy said by “reneging on its promises to the 93 per cent unorganised work force and the 10 crore elderly voters, UPA-2 has overlooked the power that this community wields as consistent and committed voters.”

Unorganised workers such as Sarubai Waghanare from Pune, said, “When the Budget speech began, we were very hopeful that some concrete steps will be announced to support the unorganised workers, but our hopes were dashed.”

The All India Democratic Women’s Association said the percentage of allocation for the gender budget was static at 16.4 per cent of the total budget and 5.8 per cent of the total budget. “It is even more disturbing that allocations for 100 per cent women- specific schemes of the Department of Women and Child Development have declined from Rs 1,673.98 crore to Rs 1,553.98 crore,” it added.

aditi.n@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW