What has the Union Budget offered the children?
'The union budget can not be a mere statement of government accounts. It has to reflect government's vision and signal the policies to come in future'. But how far has this statement been practiced by the government?
KAMAL (NAME CHANGED), a boy of around twelve from a remote village of Muzaffapur of Bihar and now working in a small roadside hotel in the city of Kolkata. He gets five hundred rupees per month and sends most of it to his family to survive.
Anita (name changed), a small girl lives in a slum in the heart of Bhubaneswar. She is just ten, has never been to school. Her day starts with her brother and some other of her age going to nearby dump yard and collecting the plastics.
Ghenu (name changed) is a fourteen years girl from a tribal district of Orissa. She was taken by a mediator to a big city with false promises. She was abused there. But fortunately came back to her village and is living with the trauma.
Kamal, Anita and Ghenu are just three names out of the millions of children in India experiencing deprivation and exploitation in their daily lives instead of a normal childhood. They are the ‘Aam Bachcha’ of the nation. These Aam Bachhas consists of around forty two percent of the population. But a high number of them are deprived, living in acute poverty, without their rights fulfilled.
The question here is do we plan enough to protect the rights of this huge population? Is the government, who speaks about the Aam Admi, doing enough for the poor children? A critical look at the present union budget reveals how the issues of the children has not been taken into consideration in the manner it should be.
The union finance minister in his budget speech rightly said that “the union budget can not be a mere statement of government accounts. It has to reflect government’s vision and signal the policies to come in future”. But how far has this statement has been practiced by the government when it comes to allocating and spending for the causes of the children of the nation. An overview of the current year’s budget allocation for the children shall definitely give a pleasant view in terms of increasing allotment in some of the major programmes. But looking at the past experiences of actual spending as well as the range of issues, it can clearly be said that the problems of the children will remain unchanged. Let’s take the issues vis-à-vis the budget allocation and see how it could bring smiles on the faces of children.
The children make up forty two percent of the total population of the country. But when it comes to the union budget for the year of 2010-11, they have got the share of only 4.63 percent. It is indeed good news for many that the government has increased the share of the children in comparison to the previous financial year. In 2009-10, the government allocated 4.21 percent of the total budget for children. It means there is a 0.42 percent increase in budget allocation for the 10-11 financial year. An organization working on Child rights issues raises concern over it. As per its report this small increase will reduce once the revised estimate comes in, which is the trend in last five years.
Let’s see, how the 0.42 percent increase goes to different sectors within the budget for children. The development sector within the budget for children got 0.90 percent against 0.69 percent during 2009-10. Similarly the health sector got 0.49 percent against 0.46 percent during the last financial year. The education sector received 3.20 percent in 2010-11 against 3.03 percent in 2009-10 and lastly the protection sector rose to 0.04 against 0.02 percent during last financial year.
Under the development sector, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a flagship programme. The scheme which was first implemented in 1975 and one of the oldest centrally sponsored programme, covers 0 to 6 years of children and has greater importance because of the critical situation of the children in this age group. Under 2010 – 11 budget, ICDS received Rs. 7, 932.71 crore against Rs. 6705 crore in 2009-10, nearly 18 percent increase. Even though it is a positive trend but still there are concerns and doubts in regard to the fulfillment of the promise that the Congress party made in its election manifesto to universalize ICDS by March 2012. It is because of many reasons and mainly the amount of funds allocated. An assessment made by CBGA says that the magnitude of funds required from the union budget 2010-11 to universalize ICDS would be in the range of Rs. 45,355 crore to Rs75,055 crore depending on the number of anganwadi centers taken into consideration and the proportion of them that need construction of pucca building. If this figure is compared to the present allocation then it is very clear that every children in Anganwadi is a far reaching goal.
The issue is not only the allocation of budget but also the actual expenditure, achievement as well as the quality issues. No doubt the quality is a major area of concern in each and every programme and mainly in ICDS but if we simply skip it and look at the achievement part only, it will say how far we are running behind. As per the information of ministry of women and child development till the end of March 2009, 1356275 anganwadi centers were sanctioned out of which 1044269 were operational, meaning only 75 percent achievement. Similarly the recent data uploaded in the ministry’s website reveals a huge number of vacancies in ICDS. Across states near about 69924 positions of AWC workers, 16245 positions of Supervisors, 121896 positions of helpers and 2551 positions of CDPOs are vacant. With all these government figures, it is very clear that, ICDS is still struggling to fulfill the basics and it is really doubtful that with 18 percent increase the government will be successful to provide six basic services to each child of the nation under ICDS.
Coming to the next is health sector. In India the expenditure on health is only 1 percent of the GDP where as a long standing demand is to make it at least 3 percent. As far as child budget is concerned there is an increase in the health sector and the government is going to implement a new scheme called conditional maternity benefit scheme to deal with the low birth weight. Health sector needs to be seen in a larger perspective and there are issues of health infrastructure starting from district to the lower level and the quality issues in regard to this.
As per as education sector is concerned, the UPA government kept its promise and brought the Right to Education Act. But there are many concerns of the groups working on education in regard to the effectiveness of this act, providing free and compulsory education to all the children.
There are two major programmes run by the government in regard to child education along with other small and medium funded programmes. For 2010-11, the government allocated 15000 crores for Sarba Sikhya Abhiyan and Rs. 9440 crore for the mid day meal scheme is well appreciated. However there are bigger challenges. More than 52 percent children are either not attending school or drop out when they reach class eight. Infrastructure is a major issue. Almost in every state there are single teacher schools. The government is trying to fill the positions by appointing para teachers which is not at all a permanent solution and affects quality of education.
Lastly, is the protection sector in the budget for children. Child protection is a major issue in India as the nation has the highest number of working children. According to 2001 census there are 12.66 million working children in the country. Child trafficking is a major issue and mainly the girl child trafficked to other states and out of the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The number children in conflict with law are also increasing. The Global report of child soldiers 2004 reveals the recruitment of children by many underground armed groups. These are just few in the list of child protection and there are many. But the allocation of the government to address these issues of children is very minimal. The government is planning to expand the Integrated Child Protection Scheme with an allocation of Rs. 270 crores in 2010-11 against Rs. 54 crore during the last financial year. Even though the amount has increased, but it is not at all sufficient to address the basic protection issues and is not even enough to implement the juvenile justice act through out the country with its true spirit.
The budget of 2010-11 seems an average budget in a general view but it offers nothing much when seen from the children’s benefit angle.. The government has to do more and has to create more provisions if it really wants bring a smile on the face of Kamal, Anita, Ghenu and million of Aam Bachas of the nation. It has to invest in the present because the children are the future of the country.
Ghenu (name changed) is a fourteen years girl from a tribal district of Orissa. She was taken by a mediator to a big city with false promises. She was abused there. But fortunately came back to her village and is living with the trauma.
Kamal, Anita and Ghenu are just three names out of the millions of children in India experiencing deprivation and exploitation in their daily lives instead of a normal childhood. They are the ‘Aam Bachcha’ of the nation. These Aam Bachhas consists of around forty two percent of the population. But a high number of them are deprived, living in acute poverty, without their rights fulfilled.
The question here is do we plan enough to protect the rights of this huge population? Is the government, who speaks about the Aam Admi, doing enough for the poor children? A critical look at the present union budget reveals how the issues of the children has not been taken into consideration in the manner it should be.
The union finance minister in his budget speech rightly said that “the union budget can not be a mere statement of government accounts. It has to reflect government’s vision and signal the policies to come in future”. But how far has this statement has been practiced by the government when it comes to allocating and spending for the causes of the children of the nation. An overview of the current year’s budget allocation for the children shall definitely give a pleasant view in terms of increasing allotment in some of the major programmes. But looking at the past experiences of actual spending as well as the range of issues, it can clearly be said that the problems of the children will remain unchanged. Let’s take the issues vis-à-vis the budget allocation and see how it could bring smiles on the faces of children.
The children make up forty two percent of the total population of the country. But when it comes to the union budget for the year of 2010-11, they have got the share of only 4.63 percent. It is indeed good news for many that the government has increased the share of the children in comparison to the previous financial year. In 2009-10, the government allocated 4.21 percent of the total budget for children. It means there is a 0.42 percent increase in budget allocation for the 10-11 financial year. An organization working on Child rights issues raises concern over it. As per its report this small increase will reduce once the revised estimate comes in, which is the trend in last five years.
Let’s see, how the 0.42 percent increase goes to different sectors within the budget for children. The development sector within the budget for children got 0.90 percent against 0.69 percent during 2009-10. Similarly the health sector got 0.49 percent against 0.46 percent during the last financial year. The education sector received 3.20 percent in 2010-11 against 3.03 percent in 2009-10 and lastly the protection sector rose to 0.04 against 0.02 percent during last financial year.
Under the development sector, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a flagship programme. The scheme which was first implemented in 1975 and one of the oldest centrally sponsored programme, covers 0 to 6 years of children and has greater importance because of the critical situation of the children in this age group. Under 2010 – 11 budget, ICDS received Rs. 7, 932.71 crore against Rs. 6705 crore in 2009-10, nearly 18 percent increase. Even though it is a positive trend but still there are concerns and doubts in regard to the fulfillment of the promise that the Congress party made in its election manifesto to universalize ICDS by March 2012. It is because of many reasons and mainly the amount of funds allocated. An assessment made by CBGA says that the magnitude of funds required from the union budget 2010-11 to universalize ICDS would be in the range of Rs. 45,355 crore to Rs75,055 crore depending on the number of anganwadi centers taken into consideration and the proportion of them that need construction of pucca building. If this figure is compared to the present allocation then it is very clear that every children in Anganwadi is a far reaching goal.
The issue is not only the allocation of budget but also the actual expenditure, achievement as well as the quality issues. No doubt the quality is a major area of concern in each and every programme and mainly in ICDS but if we simply skip it and look at the achievement part only, it will say how far we are running behind. As per the information of ministry of women and child development till the end of March 2009, 1356275 anganwadi centers were sanctioned out of which 1044269 were operational, meaning only 75 percent achievement. Similarly the recent data uploaded in the ministry’s website reveals a huge number of vacancies in ICDS. Across states near about 69924 positions of AWC workers, 16245 positions of Supervisors, 121896 positions of helpers and 2551 positions of CDPOs are vacant. With all these government figures, it is very clear that, ICDS is still struggling to fulfill the basics and it is really doubtful that with 18 percent increase the government will be successful to provide six basic services to each child of the nation under ICDS.
Coming to the next is health sector. In India the expenditure on health is only 1 percent of the GDP where as a long standing demand is to make it at least 3 percent. As far as child budget is concerned there is an increase in the health sector and the government is going to implement a new scheme called conditional maternity benefit scheme to deal with the low birth weight. Health sector needs to be seen in a larger perspective and there are issues of health infrastructure starting from district to the lower level and the quality issues in regard to this.
As per as education sector is concerned, the UPA government kept its promise and brought the Right to Education Act. But there are many concerns of the groups working on education in regard to the effectiveness of this act, providing free and compulsory education to all the children.
There are two major programmes run by the government in regard to child education along with other small and medium funded programmes. For 2010-11, the government allocated 15000 crores for Sarba Sikhya Abhiyan and Rs. 9440 crore for the mid day meal scheme is well appreciated. However there are bigger challenges. More than 52 percent children are either not attending school or drop out when they reach class eight. Infrastructure is a major issue. Almost in every state there are single teacher schools. The government is trying to fill the positions by appointing para teachers which is not at all a permanent solution and affects quality of education.
Lastly, is the protection sector in the budget for children. Child protection is a major issue in India as the nation has the highest number of working children. According to 2001 census there are 12.66 million working children in the country. Child trafficking is a major issue and mainly the girl child trafficked to other states and out of the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The number children in conflict with law are also increasing. The Global report of child soldiers 2004 reveals the recruitment of children by many underground armed groups. These are just few in the list of child protection and there are many. But the allocation of the government to address these issues of children is very minimal. The government is planning to expand the Integrated Child Protection Scheme with an allocation of Rs. 270 crores in 2010-11 against Rs. 54 crore during the last financial year. Even though the amount has increased, but it is not at all sufficient to address the basic protection issues and is not even enough to implement the juvenile justice act through out the country with its true spirit.
The budget of 2010-11 seems an average budget in a general view but it offers nothing much when seen from the children’s benefit angle.. The government has to do more and has to create more provisions if it really wants bring a smile on the face of Kamal, Anita, Ghenu and million of Aam Bachas of the nation. It has to invest in the present because the children are the future of the country.
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