Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on August 1 accused the Modi government of indulging in “tokenism” by bringing in “so-called employment-linked incentive schemes”, and said the ‘B’ in the Union Budget stands for “betrayal”.

Mr. Kharge alleged that the Modi government’s Budget has mere internships forced upon the industry with no long-term solution in sight.

He said that a week into the ‘Kursi Bachao Budget’, the academia and the industry awaits clarity from the Modi government on its “tokenism” regarding the “so-called ’employment-linked incentive’ schemes”.

“Crores of youth want a permanent solution to their plight of Jobs, but Narendra Modi ji’s government bitterly deceives them by not even giving a temporary solution!” he alleged.

“We ask two questions to the Modi government on these sham schemes – When will the Modi government provide details of the schemes?” he said.

Also read | Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says Budget promises for Andhra, Bihar are ‘post-dated cheque on crashing bank’

Neither the youth nor the industry which is to be nudged, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, to provide internships, first time jobs or training has any know how about the contours of the five employment-linked incentive schemes, Mr. Kharge said.

“A government, which could not create a conducive environment for private investment and took measures to plunge it, is now acting as if it will suddenly nudge 500 top companies to hire 4,000 interns per year!” he said.

Was there any stakeholder consultation before imposing this “half-copied idea” from the Congress manifesto, Mr. Kharge asked.

The Congress Manifesto had a ‘Right to Apprenticeship’ – which is a structured system of training where individuals, known as apprentices, learn a trade or profession through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction, he said.

“On the other hand, the Modi government’s Budget has mere internships forced upon the industry with no long-term solution in sight,” he alleged.

Why are none of these Employment-Linked Incentive Schemes missing the Public Sector component, Mr. Kharge asked.

“Is it because the BJP wants no recruitment of SC, ST, OBC and EWS youth in the Public Sector – through reservation?” he said.

Why are all these schemes providing temporary employment or internships, he asked.

“For instance, the incentive scheme for first-time employees, which offers a ₹15,000 subsidy is paid out in three installments and the second installment is only payable if the employee undergoes a compulsory online financial literacy course,” he said.

“Why should employees in every unrelated sector be expected to do this,” Mr. Kharge asked.

“More worrying is the clause stating that the subsidy is ‘to be refunded by the employer if the employment to the first timer ends within 12 months of recruitment’. If the employee switches jobs in 10 months, he/she has already received the benefit of the scheme, but the employer is required to bear the costs. Would any small employer take this risk?” Mr. Kharge said.

The minimum wage (average) in India is about ₹13,300, he said.

“It looks as if no new intern/hire in these SHAM schemes even getting that? The Modi government should clarify on this,” he said.

“The ‘B’ in BJP’s Budget stands for ‘Betrayal’!” he added.

The announcement in the Interim Budget 2024 of providing rooftop solar power generation to one crore households has come as a response to multiple guarantees of free power by different political parties in different States, including in Delhi and Punjab by the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress in others.
| Photo Credit: AP

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget speech on Thursday followed the norm of not announcing any new tax proposals as the country gets ready for the Lok Sabha election in a couple of months, but her political messaging was very clear — she asserted that the Modi government would return in July to present a full Budget, on the strength of its record, and that it did not need announcements of last minute sops to go into the polls. “Confidence over continuity,” as Prime Minister Narendra Modi put it in his post-Budget remarks.

Also Read | Budget 2024 live updates

“In the full Budget in July, Mr. Speaker, our government will present a detailed roadmap for the pursuit of ‘Vikasit Bharat’,” she said to table thumping by her parliamentary colleagues. Later Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav tweeted this portion of Ms. Sitharaman’s speech with the caption “In July 2024….” to reiterate the point. Almost two thirds of Ms. Sitharaman’s speech was based on achievements of the government in its 10-year tenure.

One of the most politically interesting announcements was on the programme to provide rooftop solar power generation to one crore households, as part of the Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana. It has come as a response to multiple guarantees of free power by different political parties in different States, including in Delhi and Punjab by the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress in others.

Also Read | Interim Budget 2024: Highlights

Mr. Modi has spoken out against the “rewri” or freebie culture and therefore, this announcement, of making provisions for free power, not by declaring it as free, but under a subsidy model for the initial installation of solar panels etc, and some outlay by the beneficiary themselves is a political-economy response to what is now a political and fiscal challenge in many States in India. “Imagine you have given free power without driving the State exchequer and power distribution companies bankrupt,” said a source in the government.

There was also an acknowledgement that subsidised housing under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana had continuing demand as more and more families have come under its ambit, and therefore an announcement that two crore more houses will be made was done.

Also Read: Puffed-up and poll-ready: Nirmala Sitharaman’s first Interim Budget

An interesting announcement with political ramifications was of setting up a committee to look at the whole issue of population and changes in demography. “Since it was announced by the Finance Minister, you can be sure that this committee will be looking at the question of population not just as a demographic issue but also economic, which will inform policies after that. Till now, the question of growing population or certain population trends was only a demographic question,” said a source in the government.

The Budget also saw the announcement that a White Paper to look at where the economy was in 2014, and where we it is now. “It is now appropriate to look at where we were then till 2014 and where we are now, only for the purpose of drawing lessons from the mismanagement of those years. The government will lay a White Paper on table of the House, Ms. Sitharaman said.

Also Read | Govt to take up next-generation reforms to facilitate growth: Sitharaman

“The White Paper is basically going to look at the change in the way the economy was handled under Prime Minister Modi, of growth generated by expenditure,” said a source.

As India prepares to go into the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP, if we go by Ms. Sitharaman’s speech is depending on its record for a third successive win.

Watch | Interim Budget 2024 | What’s in it for health sector?

| Video Credit:
Richard Kujur

Health cover under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will be extended to all Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and anganwadi workers and helpers said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, while announcing the interim Union Budget 2024-25.

While a full budget for 2024-25 will be announced after the new government is formed following the Lok Sabha elections later this year the budget allocation saw an increase from ₹89,155 crore in 2023-24 to ₹90,658.63 crore for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare while Ayush Ministry also saw a hike from ₹3,647.50 crore to ₹3,712.49 crore.

Budget 2024 live | Interim budget leaves tax structure untouched; FM details Centre’s achievements

For the health sector, the Minister added that India will be bringing in the services of the newly designed U-WIN platform for managing immunisation and intensified efforts of Mission Indradhanush.

“This is to be rolled out expeditiously throughout the country,” the Minister said during her nigh hour long speech.

The other major addition in the sector includes utilising the existing hospital infrastructure under various departments to offer medical seats to students and encouraging HPV vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for prevention of cervical cancer.

The government also proposed to combine various schemes for maternal and childcare and bring them under one comprehensive programme for synergy.

The Minister added that, as part of the Skill India Mission, youth are being trained through various world-class institutes including 15 newly constructed All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

“Several youth have the ambition to get qualified as doctors. They aim to serve our people through improved healthcare services. Our Government plans to set up more medical colleges by utilizing the existing hospital infrastructure under various departments. A committee for this purpose will be set-up to examine the issues and make relevant recommendations,” the Minister said.

The Minister added that geopolitically, global affairs are becoming more challenging with wars and conflicts.

“Globalisation is being redefined with reshoring and friend-shoring, disruption and fragmentation of supply chains, and competition for critical minerals and technologies. A new world order is emerging after the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Minister said. The budget also announced upgradation of Anganwadi centres under ‘Saksham Anganwadi’ and Poshan 2.0 will be expedited to improve nutrition delivery, early childhood care, and development.

The sectors that saw increased allocation of funds in the last 2023-24 budget included Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, CGHS pensioners, and the National AIDS and STD programme. This year continued with that trend although allocation for development of nursing services did witness a drop.

A farmer at his paddy field on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. File (Representational image only)
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 said as many as 11.8 crore farmers were provided financial assistance under the PM KISAN Yojana.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is one of the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.

Also Read | Budget 2024 live | FM Nirmala Sitharaman focusses on women, poor, youth and farmers in Budget

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, the government provides a financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year in three equal four-monthly instalments. The money is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through DBT mode.

Announced in February 2019 in the Interim Budget, the scheme was effective from December 2018.

“Modi government addresses systematic inequalities”

The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing systematic inequalities, which have plagued the society, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Also Read | Interim Budget 2024: Highlights

Presenting the Interim Budget 2024-25, Ms. Sitharaman said economic management over the past decade has complemented people-centric inclusive development. “All forms of infrastructure are being built in record time,” she said. She observed that tax reforms have led to widening of the tax base.

“STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses have seen enrolment of 43% women, the highest in the world,” she added.

The Eklavya model residential higher secondary school at Kumizi in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram district. Photo: tntribalwelfare.tn.gov.in

The Union Government will hire 38,800 teachers and support staff for Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for tribal students across the country over the next three years, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on February 1 during her Union Budget 2023-24 speech in Lok Sabha. 

Also Read | Key Highlights from Union Budget 2023-24

Ms. Sitharaman said, “Centre will recruit 38,800 teachers and support staff for the 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, which is serving 3.5 lakh tribal students.”

This announcement comes months after The Hindu reported in September last year that EMRSs across the country were running with less than half the number of teachers recommended by the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), the managing authority of EMRSs.

Data available with the NESTS showed that even among these, more than 70% of teachers were either contractually recruited or on deputation from State government schools. 

NESTS officials had said that they were not being able to fix the teacher shortage because of the structure, under which NESTS does not have power to direct State Education Societies for Tribal Students (SESTS). 

Senior officials in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs said that the Department of Expenditure had already approved a change in the structure, enabling NESTS to take control of all recruitments. The Ministry has already written to the Central Board of Secondary Education to begin the recruitment of teachers as soon as possible.

“This year, we will recruit at least 10,000 teachers for the EMRSs across the country,” the official said, adding that the teachers currently appointed temporarily or on contract will also be given a chance to apply for these vacant positions and will be considered provided they are qualified as per NESTS guidelines. 

Currently, only 401 of the 689 sanctioned EMRSs are functioning and catering to a total of 1.13 lakh tribal students, according to Ministry of Tribal Affairs data. Ministry officials said that they intend to make another 50 EMRSs function by the time the next academic year begins. 

Budget 2023 | What’s cheaper and what’s costlier?

NESTS officials have said that once the new management structure kicks in, the SESTSs will be scrapped providing for regional offices of the NESTS to take up the direct management of the schools on the ground.

The Ministry’s Budget for FY 2023-24 showed that nearly half of its entire allocation for the year has gone to the development and management of EMRSs — coming up to ₹5,943 crore out of the total ₹12,461.88 crore allocation for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

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