New Delhi , February 29, 2008

Dr. Udit Raj, President of Indian Justice Party and All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, said in a press statement that in his budget for 2008-2009, the Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, has made a provision for Rs. 60,000 crore for the waiver of loans and interest thereon to the farmers but nothing like that has been done for dalits. In this budget many sops have been given to farmers, small traders, users of small cars and income tax payers. These steps are welcome but nothing special has been done for Dalits and Adivasis. Investment in agriculture and infrastructure development are also commendable steps but the hopes of dalits and adivasis that there will be increase in the expenditure for special component plan for dalits and Adivasis in proportion to the population have been dashed to the ground.

Dr. Udit Raj further said that there has been no increase in the budget for stipends and hostels for dalits and adivasis and also no provision has been made for encouraging IT and Computer Education amongst them. While presenting the budget Shri Chidambaram said emphatically that Navodaya Vidyalayas will be opened in dalit and adivasis dominated areas but this will not do any good to them because they will get admission only as per the quota reserved for them. Practically, no provision has been made in the budget to encourage trade and business among dalits and Adivasis and the provision that has been made in the budget for National Finance Development Corporation is negligible. Dr. Udit Raj said that if dalits have to be given a share in industry, trade and business sector then they have to be given easy loans for achieving the desired objectives whereas nothing like that has been done in the budget. In this budget virtually every section of the society has been taken care of except dalits and adivasis who have been totally neglected.

(Sanjay Kumar)

Media In-charge

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