BUDGET – DALIT CHILDREN Equity & Inclusion Annie Namala Centre for Equity & Inclusion

Concerns - Issues What does budget allocation have to do with the growth and development of Dalit children? When we track children’s budget, why should we be tracking SC, ST and Muslim children in particular? What does the budget give to Dalit children today- what it does not give How do we promote equity & inclusion ?

Does Budget Allocation have anything to do with this? Only about one-third of the Dalit children who enroll in Std. 1 complete 10 years of school (vs half of nonSC/ST children) In % Dalit children in India dropped out at class VIII, in about 71% still drop out in class VIII NFHS 3 shows that more than half the Dalit children are anaemic. Only about 18% had received Vit. A in the last six months

What does the budget do? It reflects the national priorities, the philosophy. It guides development. In our planned economy, the state budget decides who/which sector will develop – how It is the means to equity and inclusion For long it has been left to state, now civil society, including marginalised sections

1950 to 1980 Recognition of inequalities, prohibitions, of caste and untouchability and of Adivasis In addition to universal provisions for women and children, special provisions Provisions were protective, retributive and promotional By 70s it was realized that provisions were not reaching and these sections lagged behind

SCP and TSP 1975 –conference of state ministers called for quantification of schemes and benefits from each general sector for SCs and STs From 6 th plan every ministry/department at union and state/ut to allocate proportionate to population (16%) of funds for SCP. Centre tops up the allocation with SCA The allocation is to family oriented income generating schemes for econ. Devt. Funds are non-divertible

SCP -SCSP Special budget head State and district monitoring committees with MLA/MP, prominent SC personnel/social worker, NGO, PRI reps. The above committee to identify the development needs of SCs in the area The schemes to be evaluated and lapses addressed

Allocation under SCSP Funds are consistently under allocated – only about 4-6% in the union govt. and 10-12% in the state govt. In , Union budget only crores instead of 32,816 crores only 6 ministries allocated, 9 ministries made notional budget, 49 did not allocate The allocation crosses 10% in the 6 ministries – SJE, Labour, WCD, Edu., HFW

Budget Denial is Development Denial Allocation does not match the demand – , 5756 cr to school edu. Only 1600 cr to higher edu. Not targeting SC families – SC allocation spent on TB, blindness control, leprosy er.. Critical ministries – tourism, Roads, power, scientific & industrial research etc do not allocate IT, civil aviation, coal, transport have no inclusive policies do not include SCs at all

Budget (Non) Allocation YearTotal Plan outlay Amoun t Due Amt. Allocat ed Amt. denied % Denial RE cr cr cr cr RE Cr cr cr cr RE Cr cr cr cr 66.87

Exclusion in Inclusive Budget Total budget Total plan outlay Amt due to SC Amt allocat ed -SC Amt Denied % Denial cr cr cr cr cr 71%

Allocation to Dalit Children Only 12.9% allocation is made –Rs.4333 cr from total of cr. 100% allocation made in schemes by SJE boys (38 cr) girls (55 cr) hostels, pre matric (54 cr) post matric (731 cr –less from 811 cr), top class edu – 20 cr. Allocations in SSA, MDM, NPEGEL, Navodaya, KVs, KGBV, ICDS

Nature of Allocation Non allocation by critical ministries essential for the forward mobility and new opportunities Allocations are for traditional activities Not opening higher areas – post matric reduced from 811 cr to 731 cr; Bio technology from 2.5 cr to 2.01 cr. Higher edu., technical edu. Left out MoWCD reduced from 1501 cr to 1139 cr.

Nature of allocation Still welfare concept than right – NRC rather than the SC order on ICDS Data collected (DISE) is not used to make appropriate allocation to address exclusion – infrastructure, institution setting up Not allocating for progressive and growing needs Not recognising the caste barriers, violence Non integration blocks opportunities

Equity and Inclusion At a time when we are tracking budget for children, tracking it for the most marginalised children –SC, ST, Muslim Need to recognise that caste barriers are real to Dalit children, address it through policy and legislative means Track implementation and diversion of special provisions and demand full implementation Has to be a task for all of us and not some of us.