Due to Government policies, inequalities have been rising in all sectors since the nation gained independence, said senior journalist P Sainath. Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of the 15th Rahul Sankrityayan memorial lecture in the lake city on Sunday, he said that the inequalities fuelled in the post-independence era have now assumed such alarming proportions that there has been a rise of about 36 per cent in such imbalances during the past 15 years alone. Such anomalies are also rising in the use of water of both irrigation and drinking purposes. At present, adequate water is not being made available in the agricultural sector. If the Government wills, the inequalities in the agricultural sector can be lessened. Expressing concern, he said that the commercialisation of water is being carried out at present through the back door. The policies pursued by the Governments during the past couple of decades have only increased the inequalities. He said that during the elections, the BJP had made some important promises regarding the agricultural sector. However, little work has been done on these important promises.