The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Saturday strongly criticised the Union Budget 2026–27, terming it visionless, anti-people and discriminatory towards smaller states such as Goa.
GPCC president Amit Patkar said the Budget presented by the BJP-led Central Government has failed to address pressing economic challenges faced by ordinary citizens and lacks a clear roadmap for employment generation.
Patkar alleged that despite tall claims, the Budget offers no meaningful relief from inflation or the rising cost of living. He said escalating prices of essential commodities, fuel, education and healthcare continue to burden the middle class, salaried employees, pensioners and economically weaker sections.
Raising concerns over unemployment, Patkar stated that the growing job crisis—particularly among educated youth—has been completely ignored. According to him, the Budget does not outline any credible strategy for job creation or expansion of public sector recruitment.
Criticising the treatment of farmers and rural India, Patkar said the Budget fails to provide a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and does not offer substantial measures to reduce input costs or shield farmers from market volatility. He further pointed out that MSMEs, small traders and self-employed persons, who are key employment generators, have been left without adequate access to credit, tax relief or structural support.
The GPCC president also accused the Centre of prioritising fiscal optics over welfare, stating that allocations for social security and marginalised communities lack urgency. He expressed concern over what he described as vague announcements without clear funding commitments, timelines or implementation mechanisms.
Turning to Goa, Patkar said the state has once again been ignored despite its tourism-driven and environmentally sensitive economy. He noted that no special provisions have been announced for tourism, which remains Goa’s largest employment generator, nor for infrastructure support, heritage conservation or international promotion.
He also highlighted the continued hardship faced by mining-affected families, stating that the Budget offers no rehabilitation plan, compensation framework or employment roadmap for communities impacted by the prolonged mining crisis. Rising unemployment among Goan youth, the absence of state-specific skill development initiatives, stagnant central transfers and the imposition of large infrastructure projects without accountability were cited as major concerns.
Terming the Budget “anti-Goa in approach,” Patkar demanded immediate relief for common citizens, a credible and time-bound employment strategy, justice for mining-affected families, dedicated support for Goa’s tourism economy and fair treatment of states in line with federal principles.
He asserted that the Goa Congress will continue to oppose what it described as the failures of the BJP government and stand with the people of Goa in the fight for economic justice, dignity and inclusive development.
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