Govt not allocating even 1% of budget for 52% OBC population in state: Congress in Assembly

“Recently, we saw a big controversy in our country on whether the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is from OBC community or not… We keep aside the issue if somebody’s caste was among OBC or not, but this BJP government’s policies have been anti-OBC since Narnedra Modi was the chief minister (of Gujarat)… clear figures can be given on that,” he added.

Citing a booklet of social justice and empowerment department, Chavda said, “It is clearly stated that 52 per cent population of the state is OBC, more than 146 castes are included in it. There are (figures of) budget allocations in it (booklet). In 2022-23, the expenditure (for OBC communities) was Rs 2,241 crore. The provision in 2022-23 is of Rs 2,241 crore. In 2023-24, the provision is of Rs 2,599 crore and the provision in (budget for) 2024-25 is Rs 2,928 crore.”

“In total budget of Rs 3.43 lakh crore, the provision for OBC communities, which comprises 52 per cent of the population of Gujarat, is Rs 2,900 crore. It means that you are not allocating even 1 per cent of the total budget for the 52 per cent of the population… If the government is thinking about the interests (of OBC), then I demand a caste census be carried out,” he added.

Alleging that in the budget, villages have been ignored, Chavda said that as per the government, by 2047, 75 per cent of Gujarat will be urbanised. “The villages should be stopped from being broken. The rush towards cities should be checked. It is because when population of cities increase, it gives birth to problems like traffic congestion and criminality, among others.”

Chavda said that while the allocation for rural development in Gujarat is only 2.9 per cent, the national average budget allocation for rural development is 5 per cent. Citing BJP’s ongoing campaign Chalo Gaon, he said, “You (BJP) recall villages when you (BJP) need votes, but you forget it while allocating budget.”

Citing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Chavda alleged that it is discriminatory towards rural areas. “In rural areas, its (PMAY) unit cost is Rs 1.2 lakh and in urban areas, it is Rs 3.5 lakh… I request the finance minister that if the norms of the Union government cannot be amended, then the state should add its own amount and the unit cost should be made Rs 3.5 lakh in rural areas under PMAY.”

Chavda’s allegations, however, were negated by Minister of State for Tribal Development, Labour and Employment and Rural Development, Kunvarji Halpati. He said that the BJP government has been making provisions to make “ideal villages” and that the budget has a number of provisions for the overall development of villages.

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