06/03/2026
Press Release
Siddaramaiah Government's Budget – Injustice to Minorities, Dalits, Education, and Health Sectors: - SDPI Karnataka.
Bengaluru: The state budget for the financial year 2026–27 presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears to contain a few announcements at first glance, but in reality, it is a major injustice to the minority community. This was stated by Abdul Majeed, the Karnataka State President of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), in his statement.The government has made announcements such as ₹10 crore for establishing 10 new residential schools in the name of Shishunal Sharif, ₹400 crore for upgrading 117 Maulana Azad Model Schools and Urdu schools, ₹100 crore for the development of Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities, and providing ₹50,000 per student to 5,000 meritorious but poor students from the minority community for purchasing laptops. These very announcements have given the Manuwadi BJP an opportunity to propagate by calling this budget the “Muslims' budget.”However, if the budget is examined closely, the reality is that a total of only about ₹3,400 crore has been allocated for all minority groups, including Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Jains. Last year, ₹4,700 crore (1.18% of the budget) was allocated for minorities, whereas this time it has been reduced to ₹3,400 crore (0.76%), which reveals the government's true stance.Similarly, the Dalit community has also not been treated justly in this year's budget. There has been a reduction in the proportion of the budget allocated to the Department of Social Welfare. In the financial year 2025–26, 4.39% of the budget (₹17,473 crore) was allocated to this department, whereas this year it has been reduced to just 4.14% (₹18,612 crore). On the surface, the amount appears to have increased, but looking at the budget proportion makes the injustice evident.The education sector has also been neglected in this budget. Only 10.54% of the budget has been allocated for education, which is much lower than the national average of 15%. Last year, in 2025–26, 11.38% (₹45,286 crore) was allocated for education, whereas this year it has been reduced to 10.54% (₹47,224 crore). This clearly shows that the government is not serious about education.The same situation persists in the health sector. Despite several shortcomings in the state's health system, more funds were expected this year. However, in 2025–26, 4.39% (₹17,473 crore) was allocated for health and family welfare, whereas this year it has been reduced to 3.98% with only ₹17,817 crore allocated. This goes against public expectations.Overall, this budget is one that neglects minorities, Dalits, education, and the health sector, and it exposes the reality of the Congress government, which claims to govern in the name of social justice.
Abdul Majeed
SDPI Karnataka
State President.
