“She (Sitharaman) did nothing. But, she was focussed on the Income Tax and she was focussed on the Delhi elections,” Chidambaram asserted.Referring to the Income Tax relief provided in the Budget, he said, “She remembered the middle class but what about the section of people she has forgotten?” Citing government data, Chidambaram said between 2012 and 2024, in the 12-year period, food inflation was 6.18 per cent, education inflation was 11 per cent, healthcare inflation was 14 per cent.”These have crippled Indian households. Household savings have fallen from 25.2 per cent to 18.4 per cent,” he said, adding as per household consumption survey in 2023, the average monthly per capita expenditure of a rural family is only Rs 4,226 and in urban areas it is only Rs 6,996.”What has this budget done for the average Indian household in the bottom 50 per cent and the bottom 25 per cent? Nothing? What relief has the finance minister given them?” Chidambaram asked.He also said the wage of a salaried male worker has fallen in the last seven years from Rs 12,665 per month to Rs 11,858 per month.The wage of a self-employed male worker has fallen from Rs 9,454 per month to Rs 8,591 per month.”What is the position? The position is incomes are falling, wages are falling, government expenditures are not keeping pace with the promises, household net savings have fallen. Household debt has risen. This is the plight of the bottom 50 per cent of India. There is nothing in this Budget for the bottom 50 per cent,” Chidambaram said.
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