Union Budget 2010: A Huge Disappointment

The Government has promised "inclusive development" in its 11th 5 Year Plan and yet each year, the annual Budget never allocates enough resources to sectors such as education, health, and safety nets, that are critical for honoring this promise.  This year's Budget is no different and is a huge disappointment again. 

We are still very far from the 6 % of GDP that is needed to implement the Right to Education Bill that will provide quality primary education for all.  Instead,  the Central Government's allocation to education has actually declined from 0.74% of GDP in 2009/2010 to 0.72% of GDP in 2010/2011. In health care as well, the story is the same.  We are still very far from the 3% of GDP that needs to be allocated to the health care system to provide quality basic healthcare for all and to start to improve India's very poorly performing health care system.  The Central Government's allocation for health care remains a paltry 0.36% of GDP in the 2010/2011 Budget