Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) strongly criticised the Union Budget 2026–27, calling it visionless, anti-people and discriminatory towards smaller states like Goa.
In a press note issued on February 1, GPCC President Amit Patkar said the Budget presented by the BJP-led Central Government has failed to address the pressing economic challenges faced by ordinary citizens and has offered no concrete roadmap for employment generation.
Patkar alleged that despite tall claims, the Budget provides no meaningful relief from inflation and the rising cost of living, with prices of essential commodities, fuel, education and healthcare continuing to burden the middle class, salaried employees, pensioners and the poor. He further stated that the growing unemployment crisis, particularly among educated youth, has been completely ignored, with no clear strategy for job creation or expansion of public sector recruitment.
Criticising the treatment of farmers and rural India, Patkar said the Budget does not provide a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), nor does it offer substantial support to reduce input costs or protect farmers from market volatility. He also pointed out that MSMEs, small traders and self-employed persons—key employment generators—have been left without adequate credit access, tax relief or transformative support.
The GPCC President accused the Centre of prioritising fiscal optics over welfare, stating that allocations for social security and marginalised communities lack urgency. He also raised concerns over vague announcements with no clear funding commitments, timelines or implementation plans.
Focusing on Goa, Patkar said the state has once again been ignored despite its unique tourism-driven and environmentally sensitive economy. He noted that no special provisions have been made for tourism, which is Goa’s largest employment generator, nor for infrastructure support, heritage conservation or international promotion.
He further highlighted the plight of mining-affected families, stating that the Budget offers no rehabilitation plan, compensation or employment roadmap for communities impacted by the prolonged mining crisis. Rising unemployment among Goan youth, lack of state-specific skill development initiatives, shrinking fiscal space due to stagnant central transfers, and the imposition of large infrastructure projects without accountability were also cited as major concerns.
Terming the Budget as “anti-Goa in approach,” Patkar demanded immediate relief for common citizens, a credible and time-bound employment strategy, justice for mining-affected Goans, dedicated support for Goa’s tourism economy, and fair treatment of states in line with true federal principles.
He asserted that the Goa Congress will continue to expose what it termed as the failures of the BJP government and stand firmly with the people of Goa in the fight for economic justice, dignity and inclusive development.
