Union Budget 2022: Government to Focus on Farmers, Women, and Youth

Farmers, women, and youth are likely to be at the forefront of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget statement on Tuesday. With five states going to polls on February 10, the Narendra Modi government is expected to appease those parts of society that are allegedly upset with it while also regaining the support of others who are being wooed by opposing political parties.

The year-long farmers' protest against three farm laws, which was called off in December 2021, gave the impression that the agrarian community was attempting to turn against the BJP, which is governing at the Centre and has a significant stake in the five states heading to polls - Uttar Pradesh (UP), Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa.

Farmers, largely from Punjab, but also from Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, actively participated in the protest, which began on November 26, 2020. While the BJP is in power in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa, it is contesting elections in Punjab for the first time since its two-decade alliance fell up in 2020 over the contentious three agriculture reform legislation.

Farmers

Despite the BJP's alliance with newly formed Punjab Lok Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) faction SAD (Sanyukt) led by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of Former Punjab chief minister, the main competition is seen as between the ruling Congress and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

However, the BJP is preparing for a huge setback in western Uttar Pradesh, where Jat farmers have been outspoken in their opposition to agro-marketing laws. The party is making every effort to satisfy the Jats. The BJP has encouraged its Jat leaders to contact the various khaps that wield significant influence in the community. It sent messages to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary to leave his coalition with Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav in favor of joining its rainbow coalition.

Furthermore, on January 29, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh in an attempt to resurrect the Jats. He described India as a land of Bravehearts and, notably emphasizing the Jats, showered admiration on Jat men for their considerable presence in the armed forces.

Amit Shah emphasized the initiatives made by the Modi government and the Yogi Adityanath government to help UP farmers.

Amit Shah went on to explain that the BJ P had promised to cancel farm loans before the 2017 UP assembly election. "Within a week of coming into power in 2017, the Yogi government waived Rs 36,000 crore in loans," he said. The home minister also mentioned the dues paid to sugarcane growers. "This is a belt of sugarcane. The Yogi government paid sugarcane farmers about Rs 148,000 crore "He stated.

Women

Women have begun to occupy a significant position in major political parties' campaigns for the forthcoming assembly election, notably in Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary, has focused her election campaign primarily on women. The major slogan of her party is 'Ladki hoon, lad Sakti hoon' (I am a girl, I can fight). She has promised that women will receive 40% of the assembly tickets to women.

On January 27, throughout travel to Jalandhar, Punjab, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that the state unit will add a few points specifically for women in its manifesto for the state election.

SP recently formed a women's wing to attract more female supporters. In the majority of his electoral speeches, party chief Akhilesh Yadav has mentioned improving education and job prospects for women.

BSP supremo Mayawati has emphasized her government's efforts between 2007 and 2012 to improve the education and economic independence of women. To counter the Congress, SP, and BSP, the BJP is anticipated to make some appealing initiatives for women's welfare in the Union budget.

Youth and Unemployment

The SP, BSP, and Congress are trying to hold the ruling BJP accountable for youth unemployment. Akhilesh Yadav has made youth unemployment one of his main election themes. If elected, he has promised "highest quality" computers to youth and students.

Priyanka Vadra and BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Misra have also chastised the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh for failing to create enough employment. The Modi government has also attempted to leverage the Union budgets in 2017 and 2019, respectively, ahead of the UP assembly and Lok Sabha elections.