Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed worry regarding the absence of information on contracts awarded to Dalit, Adivasi, and Other Backward Class (OBC) entrepreneurs in India’s public works and infrastructure projects. Last year, out of Rs 16,500 crore worth of contracts, the government failed to provide data on the allocation to these marginalized groups, as highlighted by Gandhi on Facebook. The issue originated from a question Gandhi posed in the Lok Sabha, seeking specifics on contracts granted to SC, ST, and OBC-owned businesses by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the last five years.
In response to Gandhi’s inquiry, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, disclosed the absence of a tracking mechanism for contracts awarded to SC, ST, or OBC-owned enterprises. While data on the total number and value of public works contracts over the past five years is accessible, the government does not monitor the allocation to these marginalized communities. This revelation left unanswered Gandhi’s concerns about social inclusivity in public contracts.
Highlighting the disparity, Gandhi pointed out that although government policy mandates 25% of public procurement to come from MSMEs, including 4% for SC/ST-owned enterprises, the Modi government does not enforce similar requirements for major public works contracts. This absence of mandatory allocation weakens social and economic justice, according to Gandhi. Parliamentary records indicate a consistent rise in the number and value of central public works contracts over the past five years, with 8,402 contracts worth Rs 16,587 crore awarded in 2025-26 alone.
