Given the scale of deprivation, hunger and malnutrition at present, it was expected that budget 2012-13 would accord top priority, in terms of allocating adequate resources under food subsidy, to address these concerns. But unfortunately, like business as usual, the Union Budget outlay increased marginally towards food security, which is way below the level of expectation.

On States’ shoulders-Frontline

The overall sense is that this Budget too did precious little in terms of firming up the intent of the government to ensure ‘inclusive’ growth.

This article, contributed to Business Standard, highlights concerns from the Union Budget 2011-12 with respect to social sectors and marginalised sections.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s announcement in Budget 2011 hiking the monthly remuneration of ‘anganwadi’ workers and helpers to Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,500, respectively,

The government wants to reduce the scope of its budget (as measured by total budgetary expenditure) compared with the size of India’s economy. So, total expenditure from the budget would shrink from 15.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010-11 (revised estimate, or RE) to 14% of GDP in 2011-12 (budget estimate, or BE).

Scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) have historically been among the most disadvantaged sections of our society, given their socio-economic exploitation and isolation.

It will be seven years since the government, acknowledging a gender imbalance, introduced gender budgeting in 2005-06. Ever since then, the annual budget has been accompanied by a gender budgeting statement.

The decline in the rate of growth of Indian agriculture in recent years is in large measure due to the low public expenditure priorities accorded to it in the budgets of the Union and State governments.

The global platform for action on gender equality and women’s empowerment was fixed in Beijing 15 years ago and international organizations like the ILO, women activists and researchers, policymakers, etc all over the world have advocated for gender equality in the world of work for even longer.

WITH clear indications of the economy reviving fast, the Union government should have taken an expansionary fiscal stance not only to accelerate growth but also to finance adequately the interventions that promote social sector development.