Opposition leaders on Wednesday criticized the Center for giving “limited” attention to important sectors like health and education in the Budget for the financial year 2023-24.
In the annual budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Rs 89,155 crore has been allocated to the health sector, which is almost 13 per cent higher than the Rs 79,145 crore allocated in the financial year 2022-23.
The government also announced a mission to eliminate sickle cell anemia by 2047.
School education sees a total increase of Rs 9752.07 crore (16.51 per cent) in budgetary allocation, while Rs 44,094.62 crore has been provided for higher education as compared to Rs 40,828.35 crore in 2022-23, an increase of 8 per cent .
BJD MP Amar Patnaik, however, said the increase in allocation is very “nominal” which “doesn’t really matter”.
“The most important thing is social sector spending – on health and education. There was no mention of the allocation in the budget speech and if you look at the fine line, the increase as a percentage of GDP is very nominal.
“These increases don’t really count, especially because people in rural areas are still negotiating the post-pandemic pain,” he told PTI in an exclusive video interview.
The BJD MP said that rural development, health and education should have been addressed more aggressively in the allocation.
Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi also slammed the Center for the “limited focus” on education and health in the budget.
“If the Center doesn’t spend on health and education infrastructure, it is burdening the states. You (Centre) don’t send GST reimbursements on time.
Chaturvedi, leader of Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction, told PTI, “You ask the states to give priority to it as well.” But there is no support from the Centre.
Describing the Union Budget for 2023-24 as “big on announcements and low on delivery”, Congress President Malthe Ikarjun Kharge alleged that no boost has been given to the education and health budgets. “Indeed, they have been reduced.” Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also accused the Center of “neglecting” important sectors such as education, health, social justice and women and child development.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the education and health budgets have been reduced.
“There is no relief from inflation in this budget. On the contrary, this budget will increase inflation. There is no concrete plan to remove unemployment. Reducing education budget from 2.64 per cent to 2.5 per cent is unfortunate. Reducing health budget from 2.2 per cent is unfortunate. ” Per cent to 1.98 per cent is harmful,” he tweeted.
Kejriwal’s deputy, Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio in the Delhi government, said, “The finance minister was saying that this is a budget for inclusive development. But if it does not spend on education and health, then it is not inclusive.” How is it.” “There is no announcement to build a new hospital despite the per capita shortage of doctors in the country. The situation is worse in poor countries. They have reduced the health budget from 2.2 per cent to 1.98 per cent,” claimed the Delhi deputy chief minister.
If you talk about education with any leader of the center, then they say that they have brought the national Education Policy. The NEP talks about allocating six per cent of GDP for education. Leaving six per cent, the budget has been reduced from 2.64 to 2.5 per cent. Then they beat the drum to launch NEP,” he said during a press conference.
According to Oxfam India, the Union Budget has missed another opportunity to address rising inequality in the country.
It claimed that the allocation for key social sectors such as health and education in the Union Budget continues to be low.
“While the poor and marginalized in the country are facing health, education, cost of living and climate crisis, the Union Budget, unfortunately, does not provide any relief.
“Instead, the budget provides tax cuts and incentives to the rich in the country. Inadequate allocations to the health and education sectors risk depriving socio-economically marginalized populations of good quality education and healthcare ,” said Amitabh Behar, CEO of Oxfam India.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)