Union Budget Praised for Green Initiatives and Tribal Group Development

Allocation of Rs 15000 crore for developing basic facilities like safe housing, clean drinking water, improved access to education and health of PVTGs communities is a welcome step

New Delhi: Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director of Action Aid Association, has given his expert opinion on the government’s budget 2023-24 announcement. He expressed support for the measures aimed at ending the inhumane practice of manual scavenging and promoting the development of particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. He appreciated the allocation of Rs. 15,000 crore towards providing basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water, and improved access to education and health for PVTGs communities.

Chachra also welcomed the focus on green growth and transition to net-zero carbon, including the national green hydrogen mission, capital investments towards net-zero, and initiatives such as PM-PRANAM incentives for mother earth, MISHTI – the Mangrove Initiative, and Amrit Dharovar. He recognized the urgency of addressing the impacts of climate change in India, citing a World Bank report that predicts 34 million job losses in the country by 2030 due to heat stress. However, he pointed out the absence of a budgetary allocation for a national loss and damage financing facility, which would have been a major step forward.

The announcement to end the oppressing and inhumane practice of manual scavenging with 100% mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers in cities from manhole to machine-hole mode is a welcome one, as is the renewed impetus for development of particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Allocation of Rs 15000 crore for developing basic facilities like safe housing, clean drinking water, improved access to education and health of PVTGs communities is a welcome step to address the needs and futures of PVTGs. The initiative of green growth and transition to net-zero carbon and several focused proposals under that are welcome steps. 

Despite these positive developments, Chachra expressed disappointment with the reduced allocation for MGNREGA and the lack of focus on India’s majoritarian working classes. He noted that employment remains precarious and household consumption is constrained, and that informal workers expected MGNREGA allocations to increase. He called for increased investment in social protection, citing the low percentage of India’s population covered by social security schemes and universal health coverage.

In view of this, informal workers of India expected that MGNREGA allocations would at least, if not more, see an allocation of the 2 lakh crores. Instead the allocation has been reduced even further to 60,00 crores, which will reduce employment days available, let alone solve the question of payment of pending wages. India must close the global gap in terms of its social protection expenditure as a percentage of its GDP.

India spent only 1.4 per cent of its GDP vis-a-vis the global figure of 13 per cent in 2020. Only 24.4% of India’s population is covered by at least one social security scheme (excluding healthcare) and 55% are covered under universal health coverage. The investment in agri-tech infrastructure and digitization of PACS are welcome steps and make this budget innovative and creative. However, agriculture is still the largest employer at 46.5% of the workforce and has increased marginally from 2019-20 to 2020-21.

Chachra acknowledged the creative and innovative steps taken in agri-tech infrastructure and digitization of PACS, but emphasized the significance of agriculture as the largest employer in the country, employing 46.5% of the workforce. He highlighted the need for continued attention to the agriculture sector.

Chachra praised the positive aspects of the budget but called for increased focus on addressing the challenges faced by India’s working classes and the impacts of climate change.

(CopyRight@IndiaCSR)