FM slashes nutrition budget for 2021-22 when Govt survey highlights increasing malnutrition

New Delhi, 1 February, 2021: At a time when a government survey highlights a significant increase in malnutrition in several states of the country, Government of India has surprisingly reduced crucial budget meant for boosting health of children and pregnant women. On Feb 1, the Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget according to which the budget for two crucial schemes including Anganwadi Services and Prime Minister Matritva Vandan Yojna (PMMVY) has been slashed.

Dr Reetika Khera, Associate Professor of Economics at IIT Delhi observes that in the 2021-22 Budget, anganwadi services have been clubbed with other schemes under the SAKSHAM scheme. Yet, the SAKSHAM budget in 2021-22 is lesser than the anganwadi budget in 2020-21.

Similarly, the PMMVY has now been clubbed with other schemes under SAMARTHYA scheme. Yet, the SAMARTHYA allocation in 2021-22 is similar to the allocation for PMMVY alone in 2020-21, she says.

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Prof Khera further points out that the actual expenditure on anganwadi services and PMMVY in 2020-21 was much lower than budgeted expenditure (almost 50% lower in the case of PMMVY).

Alarming Cuts in Expenditure on ICDS* and Maternity Benefits in 2021-22 Budget 

(Compiled by Economist Dr. Reetika Khera)

(Amount in Rs crores) (*Integrated Child Development Services)

Anganwadi services ‘Plus’ includes Anganwadi services, POSHAN, Adolescents girls, National Creche Scheme etc. All these schemes have been clubbed together under SAKSHAM scheme, as per Khera. Considering these facts, the allocated budget to the programme is less than the amount allocated to Anganwadi Services alone in 2020-21.

Similar is the case with PMMVY ‘plus’. The union government has clubbed PMMVY, Beti Bachao, Gender budgeting, Mahila Shakti Kendra under SAMARTHYA scheme. Again, the budget allocated to the PMMVY ‘plus’ is almost equal amount allocated to PMMVY in the previous financial year.

It should be noted that GOI has recently in December 2020 released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-V) which highlights increasing malnutrition among children and other segments of population. The graph above shows the percentage of stunted children in 22 states of India. Similar is the case with underweight children.

Given the higher need of expenditure in these priority health areas, it is quite strange that the government has overlooked and contradicted the findings of its own survey while allocating the budget for the same.