Inclusive development is a top most priority among other seven priorities focused in the Union Budget 2023-24 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It is told that the Amrut Kala in Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav is committed to the motto of leaving no one behind and Sab Ka Saath Sabka Vikas by creating equal opportunity in budgetary allocation for youth, Women, farmers, OBCs, SCs, STs, PWDs, EWSs, manual scavengers and particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) who are largely left out in the development process. However many of the concerns of development of excluded social groups have not been reflected in the allocation of the Budget.
The approach of development also has not changed much as there is absence of a clear physical target and also lack of accountability in the absence of clarity over spending. Lets see the outlay in the Budget for SCs and STs to fulfill the felt need of inclusion.
This approach of inclusion has been discussed for a long time but it has often failed to produce the desired result in the absence of ways and means to serve the purpose. Therefore, the idea of inclusive development is still a slogan and there is little to realise on the ground by the marginalised social groups.
The total Union Budget 2023 -24 is Rs 49, 90,842.73 crore. Out of this the total allocation for the welfare of SCs is Rs 1, 59,126.22 crore and for STs, it is Rs 1, 17,943.73 crore. This amount is targeted exclusively for the development of about one-fourth of the Population of the country who are among the most vulnerable social groups.