By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: The Congress, which promised skies to Minorities before UP Assembly Elections, has turned its back – the Maharashtra government budget of 2012-13 presented on Monday is the latest proof. In the Rs 1.25 lakh crore budget, not a single rupee has been allocated for minority welfare.
Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Maharashtra presented a total outlay of Rs.1.25 lakh crore. Mr. Patil in his budget speech of nearly 102 points mentioned only a line about minority: “Government proposes to implement the following new schemes in the year 2012-13 for the welfare of the minorities namely providing bicycles, modernization of Madarsas, development of minority centric rural areas, generation of employment and self employment. The necessary outlay will be made available.”
While the government has not allocated funds for these schemes, thousands of crores were allocated for other poor classes like SCs and STs.
Rs. 1230.6 crore is proposed for Post-Matric Scholarship schemes for Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes, Financial Assistance to SCs under Gharkul Yojna will come from Rs.425 Crore, for Construction of Hostels and Ashrams for ST students Rs.400 Crore has been allocated, but Minorities got only promise.
Abu Asim Azmi, MLA of Maharashtra said, “The budget will cut deep in to the pockets of Middle class and poor.” Additional taxes of Rs.600 crore will inflate the prices of basic necessities, he added.
Azmi said there is nothing for the Minorities, even the allocation for the SCs, STs and Farmers are lesser than other states.
However, government has announced some relief for power loom sector. Minorities can benefit from the schemes like Dhanya Hami Yojna and subsidy for power loom holders. Mr. Patil proposed Dhanya Hami Yojna under which the state government will provide 3 months quality food to Below Poverty Line, BPL, yellow ration card holders. Many Muslims in Maharashtra like in Bhiwandi, Malegaon are associated with power loom sector. State government proposed subsidy in electricity bills of Rs.500 crore for power loom holders.