COVER HINDI - Ministry of Women and Child Development

7.25 Budget outlays for Child Development as a
proportion of total outlays by the Union Government have
increased to 0.86 % in 2006-07 (BE) from 0.43 % in 2001-
02 (RE) [refer to Annexure 2]. The significant rise in
outlays for child development in 2005-06 was almost
entirely due to the significant increase in outlay for ICDS
scheme (under the MWCD). The same trend continues
with the Budget Estimates for 2006-07, where ICDS
accounts for almost the entire increase in Union
Government’s budget outlays for child development.
7.26 Union Government’s outlays for Child Health as a
proportion of its total budget outlay also shows an increase
from 0.28 % in 2001-02 (RE) to 0.56 % in 2006-07 (BE)
[refer to Annexure 3]. Union Government’s outlays for
Child Health show a noticeable increase between 2004-
05 (RE) and 2005-06 (RE), which was mainly on account
of stepped up allocations for the Reproductive and Child
Health (RCH) Project under the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare.
7.27 Budgetary provisions for Child Education (see
Annexure 4) shows an increase from 1.37 % in 2001-02
(RE) to 3.41 % in 2006-07 (BE), which is mainly on
account of the outlays on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan under
Dept. of Elementary Education and Literacy of the Ministry
of Human Resource Development. Total outlays for child
education in the Union Budget registered a significant
increase from Rs. 8,852.19 Crore in 2004-05 (RE) to Rs.
14,294.1 Crore in 2005-06 (RE). This figure rises further
to Rs. 19,231.24 Crore in 2006-07 BE. However, it has
been argued by several observers that over the last decade,
States’ efforts towards containing their fiscal crisis have
resulted in a reduction in the priority for education within
their budgets. Also, even the current level of total public
spending on education, at roughly 4% of GDP, is much
less than the 6% of GDP, which the Kothari Commission
had recommended (in the late 1960s) as the desirable level
of total public spending on education in India to be
achieved by 1986.
7.28 The increase in allocations on Child Protection (see
Annexure 5), however, can be judged to be very small,
from 0.027 % (of total Union Government outlays) in
2001-02 (RE) to 0.034 % in 2006-07 (BE). Chart 3
indicates the sectoral composition of the total outlays for
children made by the Union Government in 2006-07 (BE).
Needless to add that if we take into account the huge
population of children who are exposed to various kinds
of risks and deserve protection by the state, Union
Government spending on Child Protection is too small.
126 Annual Report 2006-07