Mon Feb 02 03:14:00 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Kerala Minister Criticizes Union Budget 2026, Cites Neglect of Public Education and Worker Interests

The Story:
On February 2, 2026, Kerala’s General Education and Labour Minister, V. Sivankutty, strongly denounced the Union Budget 2026, accusing the central government of overlooking the public education sector and betraying the interests of ordinary workers while favoring large corporations. During a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Minister Sivankutty emphasized the budget’s failure to prioritize public school education from Classes I to XII, highlighting the lack of focus on infrastructure development, quality enhancement, and addressing the digital divide in government schools.

The Minister also criticized the budget’s pro-corporate stance, pointing to tax concessions and ‘safe harbour’ benefits for corporate entities without corresponding provisions for wage increases or social security for workers. He cautioned against the increasing contractualization of labor and warned that schemes like ‘Corporate Mitra’ fail to address the real problems faced by workers.

Key Points:

  • Minister V. Sivankutty criticized the Union Budget 2026 for neglecting public school education.
  • The budget lacks meaningful focus on infrastructure development or quality enhancement in schools (Classes I-XII).
  • Existing schemes like Samagra Shiksha received only nominal increases.
  • The Minister claims the budget is “anti-worker and pro-corporate,” favoring tax concessions for corporations while ignoring worker wages and social security.
  • Concerns were raised about the increasing contractualization of labor and the inadequacy of schemes like ‘Corporate Mitra’.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Union Budget 2026 is facing criticism from state-level political figures regarding its priorities in education and labor.
  • There is a perceived disparity in the budget’s allocation, favoring corporate interests over public education and worker welfare.
  • The Kerala government is positioning itself as a model for prioritizing education and worker rights, contrasting its approach with the Union Budget.

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