Nirmala Sitharaman took employment ideas from Congress manifesto, should’ve 'copied' others: Oppn

NEW DELHI: The Congress today slammed the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech and claimed that the government seems to have finally come around to "tacitly admitting that mass unemployment is a national crisis". The statement comes after Nirmala Sitharaman’s 7th straight Union Budget 2024 speech.

“I am glad to know that the Hon'ble FM has read the Congress Manifesto LS 2024 after the election results. I am happy she has virtually adopted the Employment-linked incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto. I am also happy that she has introduced the Apprenticeship scheme along with an allowance to every apprentice spelt out on page 11 of the Congress Manifesto. I wish the FM had copied some other ideas in the Congress Manifesto. I shall shortly list the missed opportunities,” Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram wrote on X.

In the Budget speech, Sitharaman announced that the government will launch three employment-linked schemes based on enrolment in the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). On this, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said: "After ten years of denial -- where neither the non-biological PM nor his party's Lok Sabha Elections Manifesto would even mention jobs -- the Union Government seems to have finally come around to tacitly admitting that mass unemployment is a national crisis that requires urgent attention."

"It's far too late, and as it turns out, far too little - the Budget speech is more focused on posturing than action," he said in a post on X.

Also read Union Budget 2024: Education loan relief; focus on skills, jobs, internships; Rs 1.48 lakh crore outlay

Employment ideas from Congress manifesto

Sitharaman also announced that the government will launch a scheme to provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth in 500 top companies over five years.

"The Finance Minister has taken a leaf out of the INC's Nyay Patra 2024, with its internship program clearly modelled on the INC's proposed Apprenticeship Program that was called Pehli Naukri Pakki," Ramesh said.

"However, in their trademark style, the scheme has been designed to grab headlines, with arbitrary targets (1 crore internships) rather than a programmatic guarantee for all diploma holders and graduates, like the Indian National Congress had envisioned," he said.

In its 2024 Lok Sabha polls manifesto, the Congress had promised that if it comes to power it will bring in a new Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide a one year apprenticeship with a private or a public sector company to every diploma holder or college graduate below the age of 25.

"Apprentices will get Rs 1 lakh a year. The apprenticeship will impart skills, enhance employability and provide full-time job opportunities for millions of youth," the manifesto had said.