Health in poor shape, no lessons learnt in education

ECONOMIC SURVEY 2006-07

SOCIAL SECTOR SCHEMES: Allocation for education down, health worse than Third-World neighbours.

The performance of the social sector has shown more promise then achievement.

The Economic Survey has highlighted the country's poor performance in the Human Development Index, on which its ranking went up by just one place last year.

However, it sees hope in the approach paper to the 11th Five-Year Plan and its commitment to provide health and education for all.

The Survey points out that spending on social schemes has gone up to Rs 87,607 crore in 2006-07. It welcomes Central programmes like Bharat Nirman and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme but says that the country cuts a sorry figure even before the neighbouring third-world countries in terms of health indicators.

It notes that while Nepal's infant mortality rate is 59 per 1,000 births and Bangladesh's 56, in India, this key indicator of social health stands at 62 deaths per 1,000 births.

On education, it reiterates the commitment in the UPA's national common minimum programme to allocate 6 per cent of the GDP for education but is silent on the decline in the allocation for the sector in 2006-07.

The Survey does not talk about the Prathmik Shiksha Kosh, funded by the 2 per cent education cess.

The government used the money to fund its allocation for the mid-day meal scheme and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The government cut its allocation for both the schemes by Rs 2564 crore this year.