Budget for Children (BfC) in the Union Budget 2012-13

“Mr Finance Minister, what have you got for me this year? Budget for Children (BfC) in the Union Budget 2012-13”, analyses State Budget allocations and government commitments to child rights. The budget for children work (BfC) in India began in 2000 with a decadal analysis of the Union Budget by HAQ. Since then HAQ has been involved in Union budget analysis on a regular basis, undertaking a quick analysis of the national budget for children every year. Key findings in the 2012/2013 report include: 5.3 per cent of the Union Budget is Budget for Children (BfC) with an increase of 0.3 per cent since 2011, set against an inflation rate of 6.6 per cent; the increase can be attributed to the increased share in Development sector by 66.2 per cent, and health by 29.7 per cent. As always, the share of protection sector remains the lowest. Despite recognition of protection of children in the XIth Five Year Plan and reaffirmation in the Working Group Report, Ministry of Women and Child Development for the XIIth Plan, there is an 18 percent fall in budget allocation.