Press release from Business Wire India
Source: World Vision India
Thursday, February 17, 2011 12:30 PM IST (07:00 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, Economy, People, Politics, Social issues; Business: Banking & financial services, Education & training; Healthcare
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World Vision India Demands more than 4% Budget allocation for Children, in the Union Budget 2011
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Thursday, February 17, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- The nation gets ready to receive its budget. This budget would be about addressing the trust and governance deficit than the budget deficit, in the back drop of many scams and scandals. These scams are not any Finance Minister's dream political landscape, for his budget. Foremost, and very rightly the key question in our minds is, not if this year's budget will balance the budget deficit but will this budget meet the 'governance and leadership deficits?'
However a larger and more critical question is 'who is paying the bill for these governance deficits?' It is surely not the comfortable rich or the ever-aspiring middle class, but the poor who are not even aware that these resources were available to them in the first place - particularly the vulnerable among the 440 million children, who are paying it with their childhood and future.
This deficit/ loss means sacrificing their future for today's failure in the system. Our children, especially the vulnerable are paying for this 'deficit' with their future. What will this budget hold for the 440 million children in this country? Will this budget be a bold and honest statement on governance - restoring the right to live for the millions of poor children, who do not know their right hand for their left?
Close to half the population of the country are children - an asset to any growing economy. Yet, their development indicators are not promising and their share in the budget continues to be dismal. We continue to allot lesser resources than most countries for our children. Last year only 4% of the total budget was allocated for child-related programmes when children constitute 40% of the total population (the use of these provisions may be a different issue altogether!). Within the allotted 4% budget, issues like health and protection did not even get the necessary priority.
Is it hard for our successive 'finance' ministers to see that 4% for 40% is not the right math?
India still continues to top the world in terms of the number of children dying needlessly before the age of five despite notching up economic growth to be the world's eleventh largest economy. When it comes to education, both the state governments and the central government said that they did not have enough money to implement the Right to Education Act, which is the only hope of a better future for millions of poor in this country. Is it not important that the nation consider these moral questions, before we aspire for those seats along with the super powers? Will our budget be a clear and honest 'governance commitment' for these vulnerable among the 440 million children of our nation?
Recently, in one of the communities where World Vision is privileged to serve we came across a 3-year old, Khushi, who was on the brink of death; malnutrition was the diagnosis. Believe me, it was an effort to move the systems to reach out to her. Today Khushi has 'made it' and looks relatively healthier. But one wonders 'how many Khushi's should die, before the system wakes up to realise it is under-resourced and hence cannot be effective?' How many Khushi's should we lose, before we as a nation recognise that as a super power, we owe good governance first and foremost to our poor and especially the vulnerable children? World Vision India as an organization privileged of working alongside communities living in poverty and injustice, enables them to build a better future for their children. These children's feeble voices and rights are often neglected in planning macro policies, though they directly reap the consequences. Neither the children nor the civil societies are called for a discussion with the Finance Minister. Will the Minister consider the following 'asks' of the vulnerable among the 440 children of our nation?
Health: In India, every day 5000 children die due to preventable diseases. We also have 350 women dying every day during child birth. A programme as ambitious as National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) needs to be resourced well so that the vulnerable user never needs to pay for the service and is assured of quality services. Priority should be given to programmes targeting pregnant mothers and neonatal survival programmes. Pregnant women especially among the poor should be supported with a maternal entitlement of six months of minimum wages. With millions more slipping into poverty due to high inflation and out of pocket expenditure on health, more allocation needs to be made to ensure availability of drugs in hospitals. Increasing the investment on health to 3% GDP as committed still remains unfulfilled.
Nutrition: India is home to the world's largest population of malnourished children and yet we have the world's largest programme of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) for child development. It's been two years now since the Prime minister called this 'a national shame' and the President, 'it needs an urgent response'. But the status of children has not seen any progress. We are faced with the reality of understaffing, poor infrastructure, and poor quality of food and care in anganwadis. The rising food prices have made matters worse. More allocation is needed for ICDS this year, especially keeping the current scenario in mind. It is estimated that the economic loss due to malnutrition is 4% of our GDP, whereas it does not require as much investment to address this need. The union budget should be a governance statement reflecting a serious intent to eradicate malnutrition by committing more resources for existing programmes and for newer efforts.
Food Security: In the 2010 Global Hunger Index, India ranked 67/84 falling into the 'alarming' range of hunger. Though our warehouses were full to the extent of food grains rotting, we house 230 million undernourished people. For too long we have debated this food security bill. While our experts debate it, can we begin with those below the poverty line? Unlike the Right to Education bill where we spent a whole year discussing 'feasibility' can we budget for roll out of the Right to Food Security Bill, as and when Parliament approves it? The Right to Food Campaign recommends an allocation of 2% GDP for universal coverage of PDS. The poor cannot wait hungry as the State and Centre debates feasibility and 'who pays the bill?'
Education: This year was a milestone in terms of education becoming a right for every child in the age group 6 to 14 years. There have been ongoing political battles between the States and the Center on allocation of money to enact this Act. Unfortunately we faced a situation where many states were not in a position to commit the needed funds to meet the basic right of every child to be in school. The budget is a time to show the political commitment in making this right, a reality. We are also yet to see the fulfillment of the committed 6% GDP to education. Strangely, when it comes to the poor we forever discuss 'feasibility.' When will we cross this bridge? The poor children cannot wait forever (they have other options, unfortunately militant).
Child Protection: The allocation of 0.04% of budget for child protection is a sad expression of the nation's commitment to the safety of her children -the orphaned, those on streets, child labourers, migrants, and those who are trafficked or abused. With 122 children going missing every day, India is home to the world's largest number of working children. More rigour and a higher budget is required to protect our children from slipping into danger every minute. If we are not losing children to malnutrition and neonatal deaths, we are losing them to abuse and exploitation. Will this budget make a decent effort to make India a safe place for our children?
The Government cannot afford to exclude its children from its budget and policy priorities when they talk of 'inclusive growth'. Growth naturally and unfortunately 'excludes' the vulnerable and favours the bold and the beautiful. It is imperative that we as a nation be intentional about inclusion first and then about growth.
Will this budget be a strong and clear governance intent statement, assuring our 836 million (below 2$ a day) of a future - their right? Will the governance and trust deficit be balanced in this year's budget for the 'aam aadmi - especially the vulnerable among the 440 million children of our nation?'
Dr. Jayakumar Christian, National Director, World Vision India
About World Vision India
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity or gender.
CONTACT DETAILS
Joy Christina, World Vision India, +91 (44) 24807064/ +91 9840798734, joy_christina@wvi.org
KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, ECONOMY, PEOPLE, POLITICS, SOCIAL, BANKING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE
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