New Delhi, January 31, 2025 — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that there are no representatives of Dalits, tribes, and backward classes involved in the making of the Union Budget. Addressing a rally in the capital, Gandhi demanded inclusivity in the economic planning and accused the present government of the dearth of diversity among decision-makers at the top level.
Charges of Exclusion in Budget Preparation
He stated that most people involved in preparing the Union Budget have never been from any marginalized community. “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will see that our finance minister will go with a briefcase and a click. Not a single Dalit, tribal, backward-class person, or minority would appear in that click. Tomorrow the budget formulation will be done by ninety officers, and of these, only three are OBC officers.”
This criticism attempts to reintegrate the value sphere of diversity within economic policies of India and perhaps highlights the marginalization of communities in some of India’s higher government processes.
Historical Context and Past Critiques
Gandhi’s earlier concerns were not new to questioning. In a previous session of the Lok Sabha, he had slammed the traditional ‘halwa ceremony’—an event before the budget—by stating that there were no officers from OBC, tribal, and Dalit backgrounds present. Sharing a photo from the ceremony, he said, “In this photograph taken at the Halwa ceremony, I don’t see a single OBC or a tribal or a Dalit officer. Though half of the country is receiving its halwa, 73% of the population is not represented.”
These remarks bring up persistent questions of the equitable provision encompassing economic benefits and diverse representation in formulating policymaking.
Government’s Response and Defense
While replying to Gandhi’s earlier criticism, Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of Finance, defended the ins and outs of the budget-making process, vehemently pointing to its integrity and that of the officials involved. In essence, she lectured on the tradition of the ‘halwa ceremony’, marking the commencement of printing the budget, and was appreciative of the hard work done by all officers, despite their station in life.
The government maintained that the budget was compiled purely in the interest of the nation and aimed at inclusive development and growth.
Broader Implications and Public Discourse
Gandhi’s intervention has opened the floodgates for discussions on representation and inclusion in India’s governance machinery. Critics add that a non-diverse set of policy-makers in the top echelons implies non-implementation of policies that tackle the needs of marginalized communities. There are calls for reforms to ensure that voices from every cross-section of the population are part of the policymaking dialogue.
Supporters of the current administration, however, concede that the focus should be given to political consideration and expertise over social background. They argue that the policies should be developed for the nation’s betterment, irrespective of the identity of those crafting that policy.
As the Union Budget awaits presentation, Rahul Gandhi’s criticisms serve as reminders of important questions around representation and inclusivity in India’s economic planning; the discourse calls for a careful balance between valuing wisdom and differing perspectives to ensure that the nation’s policies are truly representative of the populace.
