Concerns raised over marginalisation of minorities in state policy priorities
KOLKATA — In its first full budget since taking power, West Bengal’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has sharply reduced funding for the Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department, cutting the allocation by over 62 per cent.
Presenting the Rs 4.38 lakh crore budget for FY 2026–27 on Monday (June 22), Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta allocated Rs 2,165 crore to the department — a steep drop from the Rs 5,713 crore earmarked by the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. The move marks one of the most significant budgetary cuts for minority welfare since the department was formed.
The reduction comes after the BJP ended 15 years of Mamata Banerjee-led TMC rule in May. The previous administration had presented a Rs 4.06 lakh crore vote-on-account budget in February.
Contrasting Priorities
While funding for minority welfare and madrasa education saw a drastic cut, the budget announced several high-profile initiatives in other sectors. These include a Tribal University, women’s universities in Contai, Kaliachak and Falta, two Kendriya Vidyalayas in Jhargram, and proposals for an IIT and an IIM in North Bengal.
The government also unveiled a State Artificial Intelligence Mission, a sports university, an international-standard stadium in North Bengal, and mini indoor stadiums across districts.
Concerns Raised
The scale of the cut to Minority Affairs has drawn concern from community leaders and rights groups, who argue it signals a marginalisation of minorities in state policy priorities. Critics note that madrasas and minority scholarship programmes often serve as key access points to education for economically disadvantaged groups.
The budget’s emphasis on new universities and tech infrastructure, while cutting existing minority welfare outlays, has intensified debate over equitable resource distribution under the new government.
