State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will present the budget for 2018-19 on Friday. While the minister has promised special focus on agriculture, a renewed emphasis on health and school education is the need of the hour, say activists. The Hindu looks at crucial aspects that need improvement in these areas.
Public health
In 2017-18, around ₹10,300 crore was allocated to the public health sector, covering medicines, health schemes and other aspects of healthcare. For 2018-19, activists are demanding a 50% increase in the health budget.
“As much as 15% of the national GDP comes from Maharashtra. But the per capita health budget is much lower,” said Abhijit More, co-convenor of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan. The State spends ₹996 per person on public health expenditure, compared to the national average of ₹1,538. “Chattishgarh spends ₹1,671 per person while Telangana spends ₹1,801 per person. Maharashtra should increase the per capita budget too,” Dr. More said.
Moreover, hundreds of key posts of medical officers, paramedics and specialists, especially in the rural areas, remain vacant. “The private sector offers much better money. There has to be something that can lure the human resource to public sector hospitals. Good salaries can be one of the key elements,” said Dr. More.
Primary health centres (PHCs) and other rural hospitals need infrastructure, so that people do not have to travel to cities. In urban areas, meanwhile, PHCs and dispensaries lack manpower, says health activist Ravi Duggal. “If we have patients with cough, cold and fever going to major public hospitals, how will it work? The hospitals will remain crowded till the primary health centres are not strengthened,” said Mr. Duggal.
Even in Mumbai, the dispensaries and health posts are virtually empty and patients go to the three main civic hospitals: KEM, Sion and Nair. The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan has estimated that over ₹1,200 crore need to be allocated for HR and supportive expenses in PHCs.
School education
As per the 2011 census, the State had 2.5 crore school-going children. The State faces a huge challenge due to a high dropout rate, especially at the secondary level (Classes IX and X).
Anuja Shah, associate general manager (policy and advocacy), Child Rights and You, said, “The gross enrolment ratio of 99.7 at the primary level drops to 67.8 at the secondary level. Despite the government recognising the need for investing in education, the pattern of allocation of resources remains inadequate.”
Ms. Shah said many children are forced to drop out between the ages of 14 to 18 and find work. The State has an estimated 78,501 out-of-school children. “Child marriage, labour and household work are the main reasons. There has to be a systematic investment plan to bring them to school,” she said.
Activists are wary of the extreme privatisation of school education. A recent Bill that allows private companies to set up schools has opened up a new debate over the government’s intentions. Activist and educationist Simantini Dhuru said, “Strengthening public education should be the main focus. By favouring privatisation, the government is only strengthening the already existing inequalities like gender and caste.”
A Government Financing on Education at Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability and CRY analysis showed that in 2017-18, the School Education Department had allocated 37.4% of its school education budget as assistance to private schools. “Hence, additional investment in government schools in the budget will have long-lasting effects on children,” said Ms. Shah.
