A section of economists, academics and media have been praising Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman for proposing a middle class friendly and progressive budget, but an insight into the budget narratives makes it explicit that it aims at strengthening BJP’s middle class support base and at the same time cater to the interests of the corporate sector and business class. Ironically it does not appear to help society and promote economic stability, social welfare, and sustainable development.

Let us take Bihar as the case. It is said Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have gained much in comparison to other states. Is it correct evaluation? Has it really happened? The simple answer is big NO. Sitharaman has allotted Rs 11,500 crores for flood control and irrigation projects. This includes the much-desired Bihar project for inter-linking rivers, a demand that the state government has been pressing for over a decade and a half.

The primary reason for the social and political elite of Bihar feeling happy and elated at this sanction is, it will create a large number of crorepatis in the state. Not to be astonished bureaucrats, contractors and rich people eagerly wait for its arrival. This has attained the status of a religious festival like Chhath Puja or Diwali or Durga Puja or any other annual festivity. Floods bring massive funds. This could well be visualised in coming up of large multiplexes across the state. The prices of lands have gone up manifold. In Patna, the state capital, the price of an average flat in a middle class settlement varies between Rs 80 lakh to 1 crore.

A major chunk of the allotment is for interlinking of the rivers. These projects have been waiting for funds since 2006. It is claimed that river linkage will help irrigate 214,000 hectares of land. Nevertheless Dinesh Mishra, a flood expert and authority on the river network in Bihar, who graduated from IIT in fifties and has spent his entire life working to protect Bihar and people from being ravaged by the floods, strongly feels that the project is not viable. He has to say; “A few years ago, a water expert narrated a small story to me to explain the practical aspect of river linking outcomes. It is like a groom with high blood pressure marrying a bride with low blood pressure, hoping it will solve his health issue, but nothing such happens. This river interlinking is more or less the same”.

Mishra holds that authorities must complete the project: “What is promised to the people should be fulfilled”. On an average not less than Rs 6000 crores is spent in dealing with floods annually. According to Bihar State Economic Survey 2020-21 in 2019-20, Rs. 35 billion (Rs. 3539 crore) was allocated for managing calamities like floods and cyclones in the state and in 2017-18, Rs. 44 billion (Rs. 4461 crore) was allocated. Bihar is worst floods affected state in India. Currently, 28 of 38 districts in the state are flood-prone, according to the state water resources department.

Modi Government’s proposal does not spell out what should be done to check recurrence of floods. Funds swept away by the floods is netted by vested people down the stream. Even Nitish who claims to serve the poor and minorities has not worked out a permanent settlement for these people so that they are uprooted every year in the floods. Perilously a large number of affected people are denied compensation. This matter even featured in the Bihar assembly but of no avail. Bihar has a massive budget for disaster victims with the emergency fund of the state this year totalling to Rs. 87.3 billion (Rs. 8732 crore) to be spent on disaster relief.

Sitharaman in her speech said; “Bihar has frequently suffered from floods, many of them originating outside the country. Plans to build flood control structures in Nepal are yet to progress.” It was expected of her that she would spelt out the steps taken by her boss Modi to put in place the flood control structures during his ten year rule. There is no denying that Modi has used the budget allocation to build his support base in Bihar. It will send the message to the people that Modi has been so concerned of the miseries of the people that he released this huge fund. He will use this fund to build his image depriving the poor and dalit of Bihar of their rights. It is really sad that instead of pursuing the mechanism to improve the condition of poor and common people, Modi is busy nurturing vote bank.

Modi government did not bother for making available enough food, water, shelter, and healthcare to poor. Clean water can help people avoid waterborne diseases and save time spent collecting water. He has not even bothered to provide basic education and health facility to the poor. Education can help people develop resilience and perform economic activities that can increase their income. They are yet to get affordable housings. It can help low-income families reduce costs associated with illness and poor school performance. While Modi craves for enrolling them as Hindus, he is not all concerned of making them aware about the issues they face in everyday lives.

With the assembly elections, in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra barely three months away he has resorted to this magical act which would catch the imagination of the people. He has distributed cash to the poor. Now he is distributing funds to states. Drop in household savings was seen as a crucial factor for poor growth indicators. No doubt this hawkishness of Modi will only increase the inequality that prevails.

Opposition was absolutely correct in accusing the Modi government of discriminating among states in the budget based on political considerations. The only mission of Modi has been to remain in power. This will serve his twin purposes; first, he will continue to serve the cause of the Hindutva as envisaged by RSS and second, he will endure his stay in power. It is an open secret that short-of-majority Modi has used the budget to buy stability and given the short shrift to Opposition-ruled states. (IPA Service)