Page 12 - MASTER IN BUDGET
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Economic Survey 2015-16 states that the Gender Parity Index (2013-14 Provisional) however, shows an improvement
in girls’ education, with parity having been achieved between girls and boys at almost all levels of education. The
Government has taken several steps to provide education to underprivileged, vulnerable and marginalized people
such as SCs, STs, other Backward Classes (OBC) including Minorities and other Economically Backward Classes
through various programmes of education. ‘Digital Gender Atlas for Advancing Girl’s Education in India’ was
launched last year to help identify low-performing geographic pockets for girls, particularly from marginalized
groups. A number of scholarship schemes to encourage enrolment and learning levels among different groups
are in operation. National Scholarship Portal, a single window system for various types of scholarship schemes
administered by different Ministries/Departments has been introduced under Direct Beneit Transfer (DBT) mode.
During 2015-16, about 90 lakh Minority students are to be beneited under the Pre-matric, Post-matric and Merit-
cum-Means scholarship schemes, while about 23.21 lakh SC students beneited under Pre-matric, 56.30 lakh under
Post-matric and 3354 under the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship including the Top Class Education scholarship
scheme are to be assisted.
Another aspect of human capital is the health attainments of the population. The expenditure on health as a percentage
of total expenditure on social services increased from 18.6% in 2013-14 to 19.3% in 2014-15 (RE) and 19.5% in
2015-16 (BE).
The Economic Survey reports that the ‘under ive mortality’ has declined from 126 in 1990 to 49 in 2013. As per
NFHS-4, the percentage of children fully immunized in the age group (12-23 months) is above 80 per cent in Sikkim
and West Bengal. All the 12 states surveyed have more than 50 per cent children fully immunized. Similarly under
Mission Indradhanush, 352 districts of the country have been covered with 20.8 lakh children and 5.8 lakh pregnant
women immunized in the irst phase. 17.2 lakh children and 5.1 lakh pregnant women have been immunized in
the second phase and 17 lakh children and 4.8 lakh pregnant women immunized in the third phase of the Mission
Indradhanush.
Besides continuing support to existing interventions, initiatives such as RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram
(RBSK) and RashtriyaKishorSwasthyaKaryakram’ (RKSK) have been launched in 2013 and 2014 respectively
under the NHM to provide comprehensive health care. Considering the rising incidence of Non-Communicable
Diseases (NCSs), the Government of India has initiated an integrated National Programme for Prevention and
Control of Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) jointly by the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare and Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) on pilot basis
in six districts.
Economic Survey 2015-16 states that the immunization coverage of children, health of pregnant women, declining
role of public health delivery systems and the lack of adequate skilled personnel are the main challenges in the health
sector at present. Health and access to sanitation/housing amenities are closely related issues which can improve the
productivity and living environment of the population to a great extent. There are persistent regional disparities in
access to housing and sanitation facilities with some States lagging behind with less than 25 per cent coverage in
sanitation facilities.
The Way Forward
The Economic Survey 2015-16 points out the need to focus on the quality of education in both the public
and private sectors. There is need for professionally qualified and trained teachers to improve educational
outcomes. To strengthen the delivery of public health services and infrastructure facilities, both public
investments and leveraging of private investments are necessary. The adoption of technology platforms and
innovative models by leveraging Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) scheme can improve the efficiency in
delivery of services.
@Mahendra’s 12 MASTER IN BUDGET 2016-17
in girls’ education, with parity having been achieved between girls and boys at almost all levels of education. The
Government has taken several steps to provide education to underprivileged, vulnerable and marginalized people
such as SCs, STs, other Backward Classes (OBC) including Minorities and other Economically Backward Classes
through various programmes of education. ‘Digital Gender Atlas for Advancing Girl’s Education in India’ was
launched last year to help identify low-performing geographic pockets for girls, particularly from marginalized
groups. A number of scholarship schemes to encourage enrolment and learning levels among different groups
are in operation. National Scholarship Portal, a single window system for various types of scholarship schemes
administered by different Ministries/Departments has been introduced under Direct Beneit Transfer (DBT) mode.
During 2015-16, about 90 lakh Minority students are to be beneited under the Pre-matric, Post-matric and Merit-
cum-Means scholarship schemes, while about 23.21 lakh SC students beneited under Pre-matric, 56.30 lakh under
Post-matric and 3354 under the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship including the Top Class Education scholarship
scheme are to be assisted.
Another aspect of human capital is the health attainments of the population. The expenditure on health as a percentage
of total expenditure on social services increased from 18.6% in 2013-14 to 19.3% in 2014-15 (RE) and 19.5% in
2015-16 (BE).
The Economic Survey reports that the ‘under ive mortality’ has declined from 126 in 1990 to 49 in 2013. As per
NFHS-4, the percentage of children fully immunized in the age group (12-23 months) is above 80 per cent in Sikkim
and West Bengal. All the 12 states surveyed have more than 50 per cent children fully immunized. Similarly under
Mission Indradhanush, 352 districts of the country have been covered with 20.8 lakh children and 5.8 lakh pregnant
women immunized in the irst phase. 17.2 lakh children and 5.1 lakh pregnant women have been immunized in
the second phase and 17 lakh children and 4.8 lakh pregnant women immunized in the third phase of the Mission
Indradhanush.
Besides continuing support to existing interventions, initiatives such as RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram
(RBSK) and RashtriyaKishorSwasthyaKaryakram’ (RKSK) have been launched in 2013 and 2014 respectively
under the NHM to provide comprehensive health care. Considering the rising incidence of Non-Communicable
Diseases (NCSs), the Government of India has initiated an integrated National Programme for Prevention and
Control of Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) jointly by the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare and Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) on pilot basis
in six districts.
Economic Survey 2015-16 states that the immunization coverage of children, health of pregnant women, declining
role of public health delivery systems and the lack of adequate skilled personnel are the main challenges in the health
sector at present. Health and access to sanitation/housing amenities are closely related issues which can improve the
productivity and living environment of the population to a great extent. There are persistent regional disparities in
access to housing and sanitation facilities with some States lagging behind with less than 25 per cent coverage in
sanitation facilities.
The Way Forward
The Economic Survey 2015-16 points out the need to focus on the quality of education in both the public
and private sectors. There is need for professionally qualified and trained teachers to improve educational
outcomes. To strengthen the delivery of public health services and infrastructure facilities, both public
investments and leveraging of private investments are necessary. The adoption of technology platforms and
innovative models by leveraging Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) scheme can improve the efficiency in
delivery of services.
@Mahendra’s 12 MASTER IN BUDGET 2016-17
