Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi expressed his disappointment with the Union Budget 2017 over the nominal increment for the National Child Labour Project. In a statement released to the press on Wednesday, the child rights activist said that even though children formed 39% of the population of India, they were allotted only 3.32% of the budget.
“While I welcome the 8% increase in the amount allocated towards the empowerment and protection of children, it is disappointing that there is only a nominal increment for the National Child Labour Project,” he said, adding, “The decision to raise the fund for women and child development from Rs. 1.56 lakh crore to Rs. 1.84 lakh crore is reassuring.”
He further said that the outcome indicators of children’s progress showed huge deficiencies at present.
“These can be addressed only with enhanced allocation and expenditure under different child welfare programs. The increased outlays to the social sector do not necessarily benefit children,” he said, demanding a more proportionate allocation for children.
“Investing in children is not only a moral and social imperative but also an economic investment of guaranteed return,” he stressed.
