Union Budget 2023 Analysis: Drop in allocation for children, massive cuts in scholarships

NEW DELHI: The fund allocation for children in the Union Budget 2023 has dropped from 2.35 percent in 2022-23 to 2.30 percent of the total, according to an analysis by the Delhi-based non-profit, HAQ Centre for Child Rights.

It also said that the allocation for National Child Labour Project continues to receive reduced allocations, a trend that’s continued over the years. In Budget 2023, the project saw a further reduction of 33 percent, the organisation said. The National Child Labour Project is a scheme by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to rehabilitate children who were forced into child labour.

There were also reduced allocations in other schemes.

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“Child Protection is ignored yet again in Union Budget 2023-24 with no change in the allocation for Mission Vatsalya. The allocation for Mission Vatsalya stands unchanged as INR 1,472 Crore,” said HAQ Centre for Child Rights through its social media handle. Mission Vatsalya is a central scheme through which assistance is provided to children in difficult circumstances.

The organisation also noted that even though finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a special mention of the National Digital Library for children and adolescents in her budget speech, most government schools do not have the facilities to access the digital library.

According to UDISE 2020-21, only 24.2 percent government schools have internet access and only 35.8 per cent government schools have functional computers.

Budget 2023: Reduced allocation for minorities

The organisation also noted that the fall in scholarships and education schemes for minorities will adversely impact the education of children belonging to these minority communities.

“A massive reduction of 69.61 percent for Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities amplifies concerns of education of children belonging to minority communities.”

“Allocation for education schemes for madarsas and minorities has come down from Rs. 160 crore in 2022-23 to Rs. 10 Crore in 2023-24 Budget. Are we really talking about inclusive education as envisaged under the National Education Policy (NEP),” the organisation said.

“Pre and Post Matric Scholarships towards PM YASASVI (for OBCs, EBCs & DNTs children) go down by 27.14% in Union Budget 2023-24 against previous year's allocations,” it said.

It also said that the Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme (DHURV) allocation has dropped to practically nothing.