The Union Budget was a disappointment for the middle class, or so the hullabaloo around it suggests. The buzz on social media is that the middle class, which contributes substantially to the government’s purse by paying direct taxes, has been cheated somehow. This year, the rebate direct taxpayers received in the form of standard deduction has been completely overshadowed by the 1% extra cess they will pay for health and education, all for the greater good of the nation.

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The definition of middle class in India is not clear and if income is the only indicator, the middle class forms a minuscule percentage of the population, as is clear from different studies and reports on the Indian middle class. But for the sake of this debate, let’s assume that most taxpaying people fall into the category of this middle class. 

The middle class in that sense is more an indicator of tax contribution than income itself. 

Despite the size, there is no doubt of the influence of middle class in setting the political discourse. They have the agency to speak out and are often very vocal about what they think. It’s no wonder that news relevant to the middle class is often picked up by media outlets. 

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that every year an argument is circulated after the Budget by those claiming to be from the middle class and by those speaking on their behalf. The argument goes like this: middle class pays for all the welfare programs and gets nothing in return. If you go by this argument, every Budget in India’s history has been anti-middle class. 

What is surprising though is that after every such Budget, there is also speculation that the middle class has been antagonised and thus will not vote for the government in power. This argument has been proven historically wrong. The middle class seldom makes electoral choices based on Budgets.

They might vote against a government if it is deemed corrupt because the Indian middle class is often governed by a sense of morality, which can seem hypocritical but nonetheless persistent. Then, there are other issues which impact their choices. From their perception of economic growth to law and order, all factors contribute, though their impact on electoral outcomes is often blown up.

It is important to know why the middle class thinks this way. The middle class benefited the most out of the liberalisation of the economy. Jobs increased and middle class people who had education were first to get on board. In the years that followed, salaries have doubled or quadrupled. People can freely go abroad, invest money in anything they like and do business with anyone they want. 

Amidst all this progress, the middle class created a world of their own.They created ecosystems in the form of apartment bodies and RWAs where they have a say in how things are run locally. In their sanitised life, all they need from the government is law and order, which gives them the freedom to live the kind of life they want. For that, they pay their taxes on time and try to act as law abiding citizens. At the same time, they cut themselves out from all the problems faced by others in the society. In fact, they cut themselves from the poor as far as it is possible. It is their hostility towards the poor which is often reflected in statements made after every Budget session.

Coming back to the Budget, despite the hue and cry, the Budget doesn’t drastically change the lives of the middle-class people in India. It is not a matter of life and death for them. At most, they are dismayed at having to pay more money or angry that their savings have been reduced. Since it doesn’t substantially impact how they live, how they buy or how they spend, it doesn’t impact how they vote or who they choose as their leader.

On the other hand, subsidies and welfare programs proposed in the Budget could be the only thing preventing the poor from starvation and possible death. These subsidies and programs also influence how they vote. MNREGA and other welfare schemes helped the UPA return to power for the second time. The popularity of PM Modi’s Ujjwala Yojna is evident in rural areas and the government never fails to count it as one of their biggest achievements. These schemes and programs, which help those living at the margins, also give an electoral advantage to the party in power, as these programs go a long way in influencing the voting behaviour of the poor in India.

One gets the sense from all the complaining that the middle class would like to forget that India is still a developing country. But they should remember that without the welfare schemes for the poor, it would be difficult to maintain the kind of sanitised environment which they thrive in. There might be law, but there won’t be much order. And sooner than later, the problems of other people would permeate into the boundaries of their homes and apartments. The tax paid by them in that sense is a bargain of sorts.

The author is a poet and activist based in Delhi. Views expressed are personal