CITU: Union Government’s Budget is Anti-Poor and Favors Corporates

The CITU State Committee of Himachal Pradesh has termed the Union Budget as completely anti-worker, anti-employee, anti-farmer, and anti-people. The organization has labeled it as an anti-poor budget, claiming that it only benefits capitalists. CITU has warned the central government that nationwide protests will be held on February 5 against this budget. Additionally, a state-level massive protest will be organized in Shimla in March 2025, involving workers and employees from industrial sectors, Anganwadi, mid-day meal schemes, MGNREGA, hydroelectric projects, railway construction, municipal corporations, and various public services.

CITU State President Vijender Mehra and General Secretary Prem Gautam stated that the Modi government has completely sided with big capitalists, taking economic resources away from the common people to hand them over to the rich. They alleged that over the past 15 years, corporate profits have reached record levels, while workers’ wages have declined below pre-COVID levels. The government has already privatized public sector enterprises worth several lakh crores and is now handing over even sensitive strategic defense sectors to private hands.

The budget has opened doors for the privatization of banks, insurance, railways, airports, ports, transport, gas pipelines, electricity, warehouses of government companies, vacant lands, roads, and stadiums. The 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector is a prime example of this. CITU leaders stated that under the guise of ‘Ease of Doing Business’, anti-worker labor codes are being implemented, 12-hour work shifts are being introduced, and this budget is essentially an “India on Sale” budget—one that will only benefit industrialists and corporate houses, while making the poor even poorer.

CITU leaders criticized the government, stating that while Modi’s administration calls itself a government for the poor, it is actually working to eliminate them. The demand for a minimum wage of ₹26,000 for workers remains unmet. The government claims that the average Indian’s income has increased by over 50%, but International Labour Organization (ILO) data clearly shows that real wages for millions of Indian workers have declined due to inflation and rising expenses.

Despite its slogans of women’s empowerment, the government has weakened poor and working women economically in this budget. The budget for welfare schemes such as MGNREGA and scheme-based workers has not been increased. Meanwhile, the government has opened up critical mineral mines for privatization and approved the privatization of the nuclear energy sector.

CITU accused the government of providing tax relief to corporates while increasing the financial burden on the common people. The government has also failed to recover tax dues worth lakhs of crores from big businesses. Over the past five years, funding for welfare schemes has been consistently cut, while corporate taxes have been reduced significantly to benefit industrialists. Moreover, tax evaders among capitalists have been given government protection, which CITU described as deeply unfortunate.

The leaders also pointed out that the Modi government has ignored promises made 11 years ago under the UPA government’s 45th Indian Labour Conference, where Anganwadi, ASHA, and mid-day meal workers were assured of regularization. Over the past decade, this promise has been completely discarded, impacting 65 lakh women working in government service sectors.

CITU has demanded that the central government reconsider its policies for the welfare of workers, farmers, and the poor. The organization has also warned that protests against these anti-people policies will continue.