Poll promises to the fore

ECONOMIC SURVEY 2004-05/ IMPACT OF NCMP

The share of education in social service expenditure is up.

The national common minimum programme of the United Progressive Alliance and its Left allies has made the government attach priority to social sector development schemes.

The programmes include health, education, employment generation and poverty alleviation. The expenditure on social sector programmes has gone up by 65 per cent to Rs 52,090 crore in 2004-05 from Rs 18,240 crore in 1995-96.

Trends of expenditure on social services and total expenses by the government (both Centre and state) between 1986-87 and 2004-05 (BE) show despite fluctuations, government expenditure as a proportion of total expenses increased from 8.9 per cent to 19.3 per cent with peaking at 22.3 per cent in 1999-2000.

Major programmes initiated include the National Food for Work Programme in 150 backward districts, introduction of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, provision of an additional Rs 12,000 crore gross budgetary support for plan programmes like food for work, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, mid-day meals and the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme.

It also indicates that the share of education in social service expenditures increased from 45.6 per cent to 48.8 per cent, while the share of health declined from 24.1 per cent to 23 per cent.

The survey emphasised that higher levels of expenditure on the social sectors could be sustained through reprioritisation of expenditure both by states and the Centre. Similarly, rationalisation of subsidies will release resources, which can be targeted to the poor through specific programmes.

Though India has improved on the human development front, some indicators for health and education continue to lag behind and the country's rank in terms of human development index and gender development index continue to be low as compared with countries in the region.

The survey said availability of resources alone cannot guarantee social sector development.

An efficient management and improved delivery of schemes were essential to implement most social sector programmes through the panchayati raj institutions with full participation of the people, the economic survey stated.

Click here for chapter-wise documents of Economy Survey 2004-05:

General Review

Public Finance 
   
Monetary and Banking Developments 

Securities Markets

Prices and Food Management 

External Sector

Industry

Agriculture

Infrastructure

Social Sectors