Do-gooder sectors get lots of goodies

The UPA government is trying to kill two birds with one stone. It is spending its way out of an economic downturn and, in the process, hoping to earn goodwill from the masses. In Budget, the government has increased spending on all major sectors that touch the aam aadmi’s life — education, health, employment, housing. It is also attempting to increase spending on dalits, adivasis and minorities.

The spending target for education has been increased by 19% over last year while expenditure on health is being projected to go up by 23%. Allocation for the rural development ministry, which supervises some of the biggest anti-poverty and employment programmes, has been hiked by 11%. While the ministry of social justice and empowerment, which looks after schemes for dalits and other weaker sections, gets only a minor hike in the Budget, the tribal affairs ministry gets a raise of 62% for 2009-10. Spending on minority affairs will jump from Rs 664 crore last year to Rs 1757 crore this year, showing a near threefold increase.

Spending on the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) — targeting 700 million Indians — is projected to go up by over Rs 2000 crore. While the health sector needs funds, unutilised amount of Rs 11000 crore with the states reveals that the modalities need to be ironed out.

The finance minister announced that allocation for Bharat Nirman, the rural infrastructure mega-programme, would be increased by 45% over last year. This will include a hike of over Rs 3708 crore for rural roads and an increase of 27% for rural electrification.

GOODWILL HUNTING

Education allocation up by 19%, Health allocation rises 23%

Allocation for the rural development ministry, which supervises some of the biggest anti-poverty and employment programmes, rises by 11%. Social justice and empowerment ministry gets a minor hike.

Spending on the National Rural Health Mission — targeting 700 million Indians — is projected to go up by over Rs 2000 crore

Tribal welfare gets 62% hike; spending on minority affairs rises to Rs 1757 crore; Bharat Nirman continues with 45% hike in allocation