The Union budget has not substantially increased allocation for the welfare of the country 472 million children, Child Rights and You (CRY), an NGO working for children, alleged today.
"The total Budget for children remains inadequate at 3.23 per cent with Rs 79,088 crore allocated for them over last year's allocation of Rs 71,305 crore (an 11 per cent increase)," said Komal Ganotra, the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Research, at CRY.
In the budget proposals, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recognised the need for strengthening inclusion in public education through increased numbers of Eklavya schools, Ganotra said adding that allocation of Rs 2,925 crore to National Nutrition Mission is a positive indication.
"What is crucial here is that a vision for transforming the currently restrictive child protection framework and budgetary allocations for the same seems to be missing," she said.
The amount allocated for key schemes in education have been kept at the same levels, Ganotra said.
Allocation for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan was increased 11.2 per cent, Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan 7.6 per cent and Mid Day Meal was increased by Rs 500 crore, she said.
"In 2015, we adopted the targets set through Sustainable Development Goals for children's development, and in 2016 the National Plan of Action for Children was adopted. Substantial financial investment is a prerequisite to bring in change for children in order to meet these targets," she said.
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