For the first time in memory, the Union Budget has not increased the spending on poverty alleviation schemes and rural development. In fact, in Budget 2003-04, finance minister Jaswant Singh kept the expenditure from the Central plan on poverty alleviation schemes and rural development at exactly Rs 10,270 crore, the Budget estimate for 2002-03. So has realisation finally dawned on the minister and his advisors? Looks like it. The mandarins at North Block must have finally figured out that the actual spending on various antipoverty schemes is well below allocation, or that the amount spent does not reach the poor.