HAQ: CENTRE FOR CHILD RIGHTS

Transcription

1 Children not Included in Inclusive Budget: Where is the Aam Bachcha in the budget, Mr FM? Budget for Children in the Union Budget By 1 HAQ: CENTRE FOR CHILD RIGHTS B 1/2. Ground Floor, Malviya Nagar. New Delhi Ph: Tele fax: info@haqcrc.org We have to strengthen food security, improve education opportunities and provide health facilities at the level of households, both in rural and urban areas. These are issues that require significant resources, and we have to find those resources. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Budget Speech Analysis and data processing by Paromita Shastri, Enakshi Ganguly, Madhumita Purakayastha, Preeti Singh, Parul Thukral and Indarilin Dkhar.

2 Finance Minister s Pranab Mukherjee s inclusive Budget does not include children, who are over 42 per cent of the population. Out of every rupee spent in the budget, he has allotted only 4.63 paise to children. Share of Children in Union Budget The children s share in the next fiscal year (Rs crore) is only slightly higher than 4.21 per 95.4 cent in , even as the total Union Budget budget size has risen 8.61 per cent to BfC a record Rs 11 lakh crore. This is still lower than the share children had received in or even the years previous to this (see Table 1). Even this small increase in the share of the budget for children will reduce once the revised and actual estimates come in, as has been the trend in the past five years (see graph below) (BE) (RE) (BE) (RE) (BE) (RE) (BE) (RE) (BE) (RE) (BE) Union Budget Child Budget

3 The gap between the funds allocated and the funds actually released on the ground is never sharper in any other area than in the case of Sectoral allocation within BfC as Percentage child-focused schemes in education, health, of Union Budget protection and development (see box below). Sectors within BfC Share of Development Sector, BfC in Union Budget Share of Health Sector, BfC in Union Budget Share of Protection Sector, BfC in Union Budget Share of Education Sector, BfC in Union Budget Share of Children in In per cent Union Budget Source: Expenditure Budget Volume II, & education remains only 3.2 per cent. Reflecting a decadal trend, education gets the largest share of the budget, while protection gets the lowest. 0.9 Sectoral Allocation within Union Budget Education Development Health Protection Even with the huge allocation to elementary education, for instance, children s share of 3.2 The huge gap between approved budget and funds released Centrally sponsored scheme to build 6000 high-quality model schools at block level as benchmarks of excellence: First phase was launched in November schools in 12 states were approved during 2009 but only 167 schools in six states have been sanctioned. Centrally sponsored scheme of hostels for SC boysand girls, renamed Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatravas Yojna from 1 January 2008: Central assistance for girls hostels was raised from 50 per cent to 100 per cent. The target during was to construct 44 hostels for girls and 30 hostels for boys. Only Rs 5.98 crore was released under the scheme against an allocation of Rs 90 crore up to December Centrally sponsored scheme to set up Girls Hostels in Educationally Backward Blocks with 100 seats in about 3,500 educationally backward blocks: In October 2008, 647 hostels in 14 States were approved. So far only 163 hostels in seven states have been sanctioned. Source: Economic Survey , Chapter 11. Although the government has promised to soon bring in the Food Security Bill, to ensure that the poorest families are provided with 25 kg of wheat or rice every month at Rs 3 per kg, the budget contains several measures that will actually fan inflation. Prices of essential items were acutely high all through 2009, out of reach of average families.

4 Development Sector in BfC There are 164 million children in the 0-6 years age group in the country. According to the Third National Family Health Survey conducted over , 37 million children below the age of 3 are underweight, while almost 50 per cent of the under-fives are moderately or severely malnourished. Clearly, the less than one per cent share that the development sector has got from the budget, most of which will go to the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), will not be enough to address the needs of all these children. The ICDS, one of the world s largest programmes for early childhood development, has received Rs 7, crore in the budget, an 18 per cent jump over last year. So far, according to MWCD, about 69 million children aged 6-72 months are covered by the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under the ICDS and only 34 million children are covered by any kind of preschool initiatives, including the ICDS. This must be seen against the total number of children under six years, which is 164 million. According to the MWCD website, which lays down a target of 1.4 million Anganwadi centres (one in every habitation), there is still a shortfall of 95,731 centres as of March The increased budget will go a small way in bridging the shortfall in all these areas, no more. The much feted Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for Working Mothers sees a fall of 31 per cent in allocation from Rs crore last year to Rs 63.4 crore this year. This scheme catered to only 7.9 lakh children as on 31 March 2009, according to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The scheme is being revised due to poor response and the budget clearly signals that it is being put on the backburner. Schemewise Allocation in Development Sector of BfC (Rs. crore) Programmes & Schemes BE RE BE RE BE RE BE RE BE 1. Integrated Child Development Services Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the children of working mothers (previously named as Day Care Centres) Contribution to UNICEF National Institute of Public Cooperation & Child Development Other Schemes for Child Welfare Balika Samridhi Yojana Provision for social welfare in NE Region and Sikkim Child Welfare Conditional cash transfer scheme for the girl child with insurance cover Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) & Kishori Shakti Yojana are to be merged to (RGSEAG) with content enrichment. It will be implemented under the umbrella cover of ICDS Development Sector in BfC Total Union Budget Total Dev Sector as %age of total Union Budget

5 Health sector in BfC The 15 per cent increase in the health sector allocation for children owes mainly to the allocation of Rs 351 crore for the new Conditional Maternity Benefit Scheme, aimed at tackling the problem of low birth weight. There is also a 14 per cent increase in the Reproductive and Child Health Programme outlay. However, one third of the health sector allocations remain externally funded (in RCH and Pulse Polio Immunisation programme). According to a performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), there was a shortfall of 43,987 Sub Centres (27 per cent) in 22 States/UTs, 8,613 PHCs (31 per The deficit in primary infrastructure for health centres, coupled with the nonavailability of health centres in rural areas, poses a serious challenge to the future course of the Mission and the progress made under it. CAG Report No. 8 of cent) in 21 States/UTs, and 4,200 CHCs (55 per cent) in 23 States/UTs, from the target that ws required to be met during the NRHM period ( ). The shortfall of health centres was noteworthy in the eight EAG States, which had 74 per cent of the total shortfall in Sub-centres, 60 per cent of PHCs and 70 per cent of CHCs country-wide. Programmes & Schemes 1. Kalawati Saran Children s Hospital, New Delhi 2. Manufacture of Sera & Vaccine (BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Guindy, Chennai and grant to Pasteur institute of India, Coonoor) 3. Reproductive and Child Health Project (includes RCH Flexible Pool) 4. Strengthening of Immunisation Prog. & Eradication of Polio (includes routine immunisation and pulse polio) 5. Maternity Benefit Scheme 6. Conditional Maternity Benefit Scheme Health Sector, BfC.- Total Min. of H & FW - Total Child Health Budget as %age of Min. of H&FW Schemewise Allocation in Health Sector of BfC Rs. Crore BE RE BE RE BE RE BE RE BE NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Union Budget Total Child Health Budget as %age of Union Budget

6 Education sector in BfC There is a 15 per cent rise in the outlay for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to Rs 15,000 crore, and an 18 per cent increase in the outlay for in the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. However, most of this increase is funded by the education cess (Rs 14,433 crores) collected from the aam aadmi for the Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh. In effect, the citizen is paying for the education of the children of India and yet, getting inadequate quality and poor access. With 52 per cent children in India either not attending school or dropping out before class eight, we are still long way from universalising of elementary education. The World Bank survey of SSA had found that 25 per cent of government primary school teachers are absent from work and only 50 per cent were actually engaged in teaching while at work. With 14 per cent of the teachers being para-teachers, according to District Information System for Education (DISE) , and only 10 per cent schools still single teacher, quality remains a far cry. Schemewise Allocation in Education Sector of BfC (Rs. crore) Programmes & Schemes Elementary BE RE BE RE BE RE BE RE Education (HRD) 1. District Primary Education Programme 2. Kasturba Gandhi Swantantra/ Balika Vidyalaya 3. Mahila Samakhya Merged NA with SSA 4. National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi 5. National Council of Teacher Education 6. Nutritional Support to Primary Ed. (MDM) 7. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan 8. Strengthening of Teacher Training Inst. 9. Scheme for Providing quality Education in Madrassas (SPQEM) 10. Scheme for Infrastructure in Devt. In Minority Institutions (IDMI) (A) Elementary Ed.: Sub-total Secondary Education (HRD) I propose to increase the plan allocation for school education from Rs.26,800 crore in to Rs.31,036 crore in In addition, States will have access to Rs.3,675 crore for elementary education under the Thirteenth Finance Commission grants for Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Budget Speech NA NA NA

7 11. Access and Equity 12. Central Tibetan NA Schools Society Admn. 11. Information Commn. Technologies 13. Integrated Ed for Disabled Children 14. Kendriya NA Vidyalaya Sangathan 15. NCERT National Institute of Open Schooling 17 National Scholarship Scheme 18. Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti 19. Other Programmes 20.Quality Improvement in Schools 21. Scheme for Universal Access and quality at the secondary school (SUCCESS) 22. National scheme for incentive to Girls for secondary education (SUCCESS) 23. Special Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya 24. New Model Schools 25.Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) 26.Scheme for Setting up of 6000 Model School at block Level as Benchmark of Excellence 27. Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Education (IEDSS) 28.Vocationalisation of Education 29. Scheme for construction & running of girls Hostel for students of Secondary & HS. Schools 30.Appointment of Language Teachers 31. National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme for studying in Classes XI-XII less amount met from NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA New Scheme NA

8 Social Infr. Devt. Fund (B) Secondary Ed.: Sub-total Elem/ Sec Ed. (Other Ministries) 32. Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme for SC 33. Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme for Back ward classes 34.Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities 35.Girls Hostels for SC 36.Boys Hostels for SC 37.Other Programmes for welfare of SC 38. Other Programmes for Backward Classes 39.Common Programme - SC, ST & Backward classes 40. Boys and Girls Hostel from Backward classes 41.Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Area 42.Schemes--PMS, Book Bank, etc. (ST) 43. Schemes of Hostel for ST Girls & Boys 44. Grant- Rural Sch l for Dev. Of Playfield 45. Incentives- Prom n of Sports Activities 46. Post matric scholarship schemes for SC 47. Post Matric scholarship schemes for Backward Class 48.Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities 49. National Merit scholarships 50. National Programme for Youth & Adolescent Development Physical Education Grants to NCC/Public Residential Schools ACA for Educational Development of Tribal Children in NA NA NA NA

9 Schedule V areas & Naxal affected areas Free Coaching and Allied Scheme for Minorities (C) Ed. (Other Min.): Sub-total (D) Education Sector Total Union Budget Total Ed. Sector as %age of Union Budget Protection sector in BfC In every budget for the last ten years, protection has received the least attention. This year too it received 0.04 per cent of the budget. All initiatives till the Eleventh Five Year plan had been towards had been ameliorative in nature, that is, they addressed children after they fell through the protective net. With the designing of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), the effort was to create a protective environment for children, thereby addressing their needs and stop them from becoming vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. In that backdrop, it is heartening to see a 300 per cent jump in the allocation for the ICPS this year, from Rs 54 crore to Rs 270 crore. However, this is still not enough to even implement the 2001 Juvenile Justice law and the 2006 amendments all over the country. Yet, the old programmes, such as the Prevention and Control of Juvenile Social Maladjustment, are no longer running.. HAQ has calculated that one day s expenditure on just the members alone, if all the CWCs and JJBs were to be in place, amounts to Rs. 2,13,800 per day (based on the norm of Rs.500 per member per sitting, with a minimum number of three sittings a week). This is apart from other administration costs as well as the salaries of all the Principal Magistrates. Protection should ideally be taken up on a war footing by policymakers. India has the highest number of working children in the world, million as per the 2001 census and anywhere between 14 million and 50 million unofficially. More alarmingly, crimes against children went up by 7.6 per cent in just one year to 2007, according to Crime in India 2007, published by the National Crime Records Bureau. India also has the highest number of sexually abused children in the world, with one in every 10 children sexually abused at any point in time, and a child below 16 years raped every 155th minute. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says that on an average, 44,000 children are reported missing every year, while one fourth remain untraced. Children are also getting more vulnerable in an increasingly politicised environment. Children in 19 out of 28 states are growing up in internal armed conflicts. This shows up in juvenile crimes, which are rising three times faster than all crimes. Since 2001, juvenile crimes have gone up by 38.5 per cent, as compared to a 12.5 per cent rise in all crimes.

10 Programmes & Schemes Schemewise Allocation in Protection Sector of BfC Rs. crore BE RE BE RE BE RE BE RE BE 1. Other Schemes of Child Protection (break up is shown in table) Prevention & Control of Juvenile Social Maladjustment 3. Improvement in Working Conditions of Child/ Women Labour 4. Swadhar Short Stay Home** Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) Protection Sector, BfC Total Union Budget-Total Budget for Protection Sector as %age of total Union Budget Other Schemes on Protection Rs. Crore RE BE RE BE RE BE Integrated Scheme for Street children Scheme for welfare of working children and children in need of care and protection Shishu Griha Scheme (erstwhile Homes for infant and young children for promotion of in country adoption) Central Adoption Resource Agency* Scheme for Rescue of Victims of Trafficking Relief to & Rehabilitation of Rape Victims Total Other Schemes on Child Protection Endnote To echo the finance minister, The Union Budget cannot be a mere statement of Government accounts. It has to reflect the Government's vision and signal the policies to come in future. More importantly, the government concentrates on supporting and delivering services to the disadvantaged sections of the society. Yet, this budget falls short of applying this principle to children. How else do we explain the fact that the share of funds for children does not even match up to the level three years ago? The Budget for Children must be looked at within the framework of the overall economic scenario. The budget measures will lead to an all-round price rise, adding to the inflation

11 ruling at over 7 per cent now. Worse, it has no concrete measure to counter the seriously high food inflation, at 20 per cent, which has severe implications for the nutrition of small children and new and would-be mothers. Children growing up hungry and malnourished suffer from a deficit childhood that no amount of prosperity in later life can fill. Even the future seems under a cloud. Out of every rupee spent in the budget, 29 paise is coming from borrowing even as 19 paise is being spent on interest payment. Thus, even as growth has shrunk, the fiscal deficit, or the total new borrowing of the government has dipped only a little, from 6.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product in to 5.5 per cent in This is very high debt, described by economists as a generational burden, and this hangs heavy on India s children who will keep paying the cumulative interest burden and bear the price pressure.