CS Mar 2024

The budget speech says that with Sab Ka Prayas , we could overcome the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic and recover speedily . Contrarily , the data proves that the powerful corporate forces could transform life crisis of majority into profitable opportunities which resulted in the excessive rise in the affluence of wealthy . They could revive in just 5 months as per many serious studies . But the people at least did not reach to pre pandemic crisis level . Still , they are living in “ Sab Ka Prayas ”.

In our economy , the fast-growing growth can be seen only in the wealth of monopoly capital while the majority live in miserable conditions . It is sad to notice that these conditions will be continued strongly to achieve $ 5 trillion ( Rs 41,50,895 crores of crores ) worth gross domestic products by 2027 . Moreover , Indian economy will become the 3 rd largest in the world . Thus , India will be “ Viksit Bharat ” i . e Developed Country by 2047 . The budget is popularising the slogan of “ First Develop India ”. This is really a cruel and brutal contradiction .

On the one hand , the budget states that the strong implementation of economic reforms along with propeople policies for the last 10 years resulted in the achievement of inclusive growth . Contrarily , the interim budget declares that its aim is to empower poor , women , youth and farmers . Thus , it is clear that they are not incorporated into inclusive growth with false achievements and it is nothing but deceiving people .

The budget is just not the figures in it , it is also the declaration of the policy of the governing body . The existing socio-economic structure and the class character of the state will be reflected in the budget . We can read this class bias in the budgets of all governments in the world . That means all budgets are class biased .

Bulletin of the Central Committee of CPI ( ML )

In view of the ensuing Parliament elections , the Interim Central budget 2024 -25 has been submitted to Parliament by the Finance Minister , Nirmala Sitharaman , on February 1 , 2024 . What is the present economic context ? The continuation of economic recession strengthened by 2019 . Excessive rise is there in unemployment as well as prices of essential goods including the prices of diesel , petrol and cooking gas . The unsold stocks are piling up in godowns . The public education and the public health are seeing destroyed . In addition , public transportation is not accessible to majority . The miserable lives of majority exposed by Covid-19 are on the further deterioration . On the other , we find unrestrained rise in the economic inequalities . The critical lives became normal to majority . The budget speech did not take into consideration all these serious issues but simply states that we could achieve inclusive growth with the Mantra of “ Sab Ka Saath , Sab Ka Vikas and Sab Ka Vishwas ”. Is it not a paradox ?

Moreover , the budget fails to mention the issues of rising farmers suicides due to intensifying agrarian crisis , increasing rural distress , growing migration . Working class is subjected to high level of labour exploitation as casual labour in informal sector , as independent partners in Gig system . In addition , women labour is subjected to sexual exploitation . In these conditions , the budget speech states that the sky is the limit in creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities due to economic reforms as well as pro - poor policies . Who could avail these opportunities ? The budget refused to recognise the serious real-life crisis of people . Is it not deceiving people with falsification of facts / truths ?