February 9 Observed as Black Day Against Anti-People Union Budget

The joint call by the AIKS and AIAWU to protest against the anti-peasant, anti worker Union budget by observing 9th February 2023 as Black Day was taken up by the peasantry and agricultural workers throughout the country. The copies of the budget were burnt in more than 12,000 villages in 300 districts. In certain villages effigies of the prime minister were also burnt. Massive participation of peasants and workers in public meetings is a strong reminder to the Union government that the pro-corporate policies will be ferociously fought with.

While addressing the protests, AIKS and AIAWU leaders pointed out that the massive reduction in budgetary allocations to agrarian and social sectors will intensify the sufferings of the peasantry and rural proletariat. The Budget Estimate for agriculture has been substantially reduced from Rs 1,24,000 crores in 2022-23 to Rs 1,15,531 crores this year. Similarly, the allotment for MGNREGA has been cut from RS 89,000 crores in Revised Estimate of 2022-23 to merely Rs 60,000 crores this year. There has been a drastic cut in fertiliser subsidies from Rs 2,25,000 crores in 2022-23 in Revised Estimate to Rs 1,75,000 crores this year. The allocation for Market Intervention and Price Support Scheme which was Rs 1,500 crores in 2022-23 Revised Estimate does not find any mention in the 2023-24 Budget Estimate.

The Black Day was observed in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on February 13 and February 11 respectively. Some visuals: