NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Centre is enabling “systemic exclusion” of marginalised communities from major public contracts, asserting that the government does not maintain data on the participation of Dalit, Adivasi, and backward class entrepreneurs in large-scale public works.
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi said he had raised the issue in Parliament while seeking details on the allocation of Rs 16,500 crore worth of public works contracts awarded in the previous year. “I asked the government in Parliament — out of Rs 16,500 crore worth of public works contracts awarded last year, how many were given to businesses owned by Dalits, Adivasis, and backward classes?” he wrote.
Calling the response “deeply concerning,” he added, “the government does not maintain any data on this.”
Gandhi also referred to existing procurement norms, noting that policy mandates 25% of public procurement from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with 4% earmarked for Dalit and Adivasi entrepreneurs. However, he alleged that these provisions are not enforced when it comes to large public works contracts. “When it comes to the largest and most lucrative contracts—public works—the government says this is not ‘mandatory,’” he said.
Describing the issue as more than an administrative lapse, the Congress leader argued that it reflects a deeper structural concern. “This is not merely an administrative gap. It is a system of exclusion deliberately created through the policies of the Modi government, which undermines social and economic justice,” he stated.
He further questioned the fairness of access to economic opportunities, asking, “Why are Bahujan entrepreneurs being kept out of the country’s largest public contracts?”
The remarks come amid an ongoing political debate around affirmative action and inclusivity in economic policymaking. Public procurement is widely seen as a key mechanism for promoting entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups, with successive governments emphasizing the importance of MSMEs in driving employment and growth.
While measures have been introduced to improve participation of smaller enterprises in procurement processes, critics continue to point to gaps in implementation and transparency. The issue is expected to remain in focus as opposition parties call for greater accountability and comprehensive data disclosure in public spending.
Agencies