'Govt needs to spend more on social sector'

City-based NGO, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA), has urged the government to spend more on the social sector, saying overall there has been an insignificant increase in the budgetary allocations.    

"While the Union Budget 2009-10 does pay attention to some of the important sectors/issues like rural and urban infrastructure, rural livelihood, fertilizer subsidy. The overall social sector allocations have recorded an insignificant increase in this Budget," CBGA said in a statement.    

If further added some of the government schemes such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Total Sanitation Campaign were not even mentioned in the Budget speech.    

"Perhaps, the government has become complacent about its achievement in elementary education, health, water and sanitation sectors," it said.     

CBGA added that the public spending on education by the government as a proportion of GDP has remained at 0.76 per cent in 2009-10, hardly any change from  0.70 per cent in 2008-09.     

Allocation for health and family welfare has been increased to Rs 22,641 crore in 2009-10 from Rs 18,467 crore in 2008-09.

However, as a proportion of total expenditure of the union government, it accounts for a meager 2.2 per cent share, it added.