Kolkata: The BJP govt in Bengal has reduced the fund allocation for the minority affairs and madrassa education department in its first state budget, cutting the outlay by Rs 3,548 crore, or over 60%, compared with the previous Trinamool govt’s interim budget for 2025-26 in Feb.Presenting the state budget for 2026-27 on Monday, finance minister Swapan Dasgupta proposed an allocation of Rs 2,165.4 crore for the department, down from Rs 5,713 crore earmarked by the Mamata Banerjee govt in its interim budget. The reduction drew criticism from opposition parties, which alleged the move would adversely affect educational and welfare programmes for minority communities.The minority affairs and madrassa education department looks after a range of welfare initiatives, including scholarships, educational assistance, skill development programmes and infrastructure support for minority communities. It is also responsible for the administration and development of recognised madrasas in Bengal, which houses around 614 govt-aided madrasas with an enrolment of 4.5 lakh students.Akhruzzaman, Trinamool’s rebel MLA group chief whip, said the scale of the reduction raised concerns about the possible singling out of a particular community. “The budget allocation for the minority and the madrassa department has brought down from Rs 5,713 crore to Rs 2,165 crore. Such drastic reduction indicates that a particular community is being targeted. A community that is financially backward will suffer further. If the govt discriminates by reducing budgetary allocation, the entire society will suffer. They talk about ‘sabka sath sabka vikas’ but their budget doesn’t reflect it,” he said.Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh said the previous govt worked for the welfare of all sections of society. “Mamata Banerjee’s govt worked for the upliftment of every section of the state. The present govt has slashed the budget allocation. We will see the details and give our views and analysis. You can see what is happening in the state,” said Ghosh.CPM MLA Mustafijur Rahaman also criticised the slash, but pointed out budget allocations and actual expenditure often differed under the previous govt. “The earlier govt would make budgetary allocations, but much of that was never spent for the minorities. This govt has almost halved the allocation. The PM and the CM have been talking about ‘sabka sath sabka vikas’. We don’t see any approach to such inclusive development for the minorities. We don’t even see many projects meant for the development of the blocks or areas that have a sizeable minority population. I have demanded an ITI college in Domkal, my constituency. Such infrastructure projects will help in the minority communities’ development,” Rahaman said.A madrasa teacher in Murshidabad said the slash would create uncertainty among educators regarding investments in school infrastructure, student support programmes and resources. He added many institutes, which serve economically disadvantaged students, depended on govt assistance.
