Assam gets less money from centre for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan -Governance Now

Assam gets less money from centre for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Grants for National Health Mission from centre have been reduced

GN Bureau | February 15, 2017

#education #mid-day meals #budget #Assam government #Himanta Biswa Sarma

Himanta Biswa Sarma at a discussion in Gauhati University on Assam Budget 2017

The Assam government has proposed to provide eggs twice a week to all 42.61 lakh children under the mid-day meal programme. The estimated cost will be Rs 130 crore. In order to make funds available on time, the state will bear the centre’s cost until it is reimbursed by the centre, showed an analysis of the Assam budget carried out by PRS legislative services.

Read: What's on that midday meal plate?

The analysis showed that grants for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan from centre have been reduced from Rs 1,630 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 1,600 crore in 2017-18. Also, the grants for National Health Mission from centre have been reduced from Rs 1,440 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 1,331 crore in 2017-18.

Read: Bleak board: a ‘scam’ to build ghost schools

The budget proposes to extend coverage to workers in 320 tea gardens through mobile medical units. Rs 12,000 will be provided for pregnant women in tea garden areas. The essential drugs list has brought 207 more drugs under the list thereby taking the total to 407.

Rs 2,177 crore is estimated to be spent under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, while Rs 1,060 crore is estimated to be spent under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the budget for Assam for financial year 2017-18 on February 7, 2017. The revenue surplus for the next financial year is targeted at Rs 2,400 crore, or 0.93% of the state Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Fiscal deficit is targeted at Rs 7,702 crore (2.98% of state GDP).

The departments of health, water resources, and rural development saw increases in allocations for the year 2017-18. On the other hand, the department of roads and bridges witnessed a decrease in allocation.

For promotion of banking, Rs 5,000 each will be given to tea plantation workers who have opened bank accounts.

Rs 5 crore has been allocated to provide two-wheelers to 1,000 top-ranking girl students who pass high school in 2017.

Read: Assam budget analysis 2017-18

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