Rahul Gandhi calls for national law ensuring budget share for Dalit and Adivasi welfare

Rahul Gandhi advocates for national law ensuring fair budget allocation for schemes designed to address the needs of Dalits and Adivasis. He met with activists and researchers from the communities.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said the earlier government of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) introduced “Sub-Plans” for Dalits and Adivasis at the national level, but these provisions were weakened under the current administration, resulting in only a minimal portion of the budget reaching these communities.

He underscored the necessity of a national law to guarantee a fair share of the budget for schemes specifically designed to address the needs of Dalits and Adivasis. He expressed these views on Friday (April 4, 2025) after meeting a delegation of researchers, activists, and social workers from Dalit and Adivasi communities who are advocating for a national law to allocate a fixed portion of the Union Budget to these communities.

Mr. Gandhi expressed his support for this initiative, noting that similar laws in Karnataka and Telangana have led to significant benefits. He emphasized the need for concrete steps to ensure that Dalits and Adivasis have meaningful representation and a voice in governance.

Mallepalli Laxmaiah, chairperson of the Centre for Dalit Studies (CDS), who was part of the delegation, said that Mr. Gandhi responded positively to the discussions, and the delegation also requested the enactment of this law in Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand. Additionally, Karnataka and Telangana should conduct a thorough review to ensure better implementation of the SC/ST Sub-Plan Act.

The delegation also included notable activists such as Paul Diwakar, founder of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR); Beena Palikal of NCDHR; Ashok Bharathi, founder of the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organizations (NACDOR); and Manjula Pradeep, a prominent Dalit women’s rights activist.

Mr. Gandhi later posted on ‘X’ that the country needs a national law which guarantees a significant share of the budget to schemes designed, targeted, and dedicated to meet the needs of Dalit and Adivasis.