Parliament in Budget Session 2004

PARLIAMENT IN BUDGET SESSION, 2004

SAYS A CHILD . . .
WHO SPEAKS FOR MY RIGHTS?
PARLIAMENT IN BUDGET SESSION, 2004
With
OVERVIEW OF ALL THREE SESSIONS, 2003
Enakshi Ganguly Thukral
Madhumita Purkayastha
Minal Manisha

© HAQ: Centre for Child Rights
Any information contained in this publication may be reproduced with due acknowledgment.
Permission to translate all or any part of the volume must be obtained from HAQ: Centre for Child Rights.
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgement i
Abbreviations ii
1. Introduction 1
2. Budget Session 2004 5
3. Development 9
3.1 Child Development Schemes 10
3.2 Youth Development 13
4. Health 16
4.1 Health Problems 18
4.2 Health Policies/ Interventions 26
5. Education 27
5.1 Policy/ Status 28
5.2 Special Groups 30
5.3 Programmes/ Schemes 33
5.4 Text Books 35
5.5 Financial / Physical Resources 37
6. Protection 50
6.1 Protection of Child Rights 52
6.2 Child Labour 53
6.3 Juvenile Justice 55
6.4 Female Foeticide 56
6.5 Child Abuse 58
6.6 Child Trafficking 58
7. Debates And Motions 63
7.1 Health 63
7.2 Education 65
7.3 Protection 69
Reference 71
Appendix : Consideration of Reports Submitted by State Parties 72
under Articel 44 of the CRC, Concluding Observations : India

55
1.1 Child-related Questions in 2003-04 2
1.2 Distribution of Questions in Parliament 2003-04 2
1.3 Sector-wise Distribution of Child-related Parliament 2
Questions 2003-04
2.1 Child-focused Parliament Questions in the Budget 5
Session 2004-05
2.2 Child-friendly Political Parties 5
2.3 Child Friendly Parliamentarians in the 6
Budget Session 2004-05
2.4 Issues Raised by Child Friendly Parliamentarians 7
3.1 Government of India’s Goals and Targets 9
3.2 State-wise Sanctioned and Operational 12
Anganwadi Centres under the ICDS
3.3 State-wise Anganwadi Centres Sanctioned 12
for Construction under World Bank Assisted Projects
3.4 State-wise Anganwadi Centres Sanctioned 12
for Construction in NE States and Funds Released
3.5 State-wise Central Assistance Released to Rural 14
Schools for Purchase of Sports Equipment and
Development of Playground
3.6 Child Focused Questions on Development, 15
4.2 Share of Child Health in the Union Budget of 17
2002-03 to 2004-05
4.3 State-wise Polio Cases from 2001 to 2004 20
4.4 Maternal Mortality Rate in India and Bigger States 23
4.5 Child-focused Questions on Health, 25
5.2 State-wise Number of Disabled Children Covered 31
Under the Scheme of IEDC – 2003-04.
5.3 State-wise Number of Children with Disabilities 32
Identified for Coverage Under SSA in 2004-05
5.4 Grants Released to the States and UTs under 34
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan During 2002-03 & 2003-04
5.5 State-wise out of school children in 35
elementary education
5.6 Enrolment by Stages 36
5.7 Country wise details of Literacy rate, 38
per capita expenditure, and percentage of expenditure
on education to Gross National Product (GNP)
5.8 State-wise Allocation and Utilisation of Funds 40
for Different Education Schemes (2003-04)
5.9 Setting up of Schools with World Bank Assistance 42
5.10 Child Focused Questions on Education, 43
6.1 Share of Children in Difficult Circumstances, 51
Union Budget 2004-05
6.2 State-wise distribution of working children 54
in the age group 5-14 years
6.3 Incidence of female foeticide reported 57
during the year 1999-2003
6.4 Child Focused Questions on Protection, 60
7.1 Proportion of Under-nourished Children 64
(NFHS-I and NFHS-II)
7.2 List of Government Bills, Debates, Special Mentions 70
and Motions, Budget Session 2004-05
BOXES
No.1 Guidelines for asking questions 1
No.2 Child Development Indicators in 9
India and Neighbouring Countries
No.3 Incidents of Tuberculosis among Children in India 16
No.4 Child Labour in Zari Industries of Varanasi 51
No.5 National Charter for Children – 2003 53
No.6 Did NHRC forget to inform the government? 58
LIST OF TABLES AND BOXES

This is the second year that HAQ: Centre for Child Rights is analysing the parliamentary questions and debates from a child rights perspective. Last year,
we undertook both the research and publication through our own resources. We must acknowledge the help received from Dr Vinay Bhatnagar, Joint
Director, Lok Sabha Secretariat and Mr Frank Christopher, Joint Director, Parliamentary Museum and Archives, without whose help we would not have
been able to embark on this venture. We thank Ms Shyama Warner for editing the text.
We are grateful to Child Relief and You (CRY) for supporting this publication.
We are also grateful to all those persons who have taken the time and the interest to read the booklets and share their comments with us which have
helped us to make additions and changes. A few parliamentarians have told us that they found the booklets very useful. We await the day when most
of them will do so. That will be the day when our work will find real relevance and meaning.
Enakshi Ganguly Thukral Bharti Ali
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
i

AIADMK All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
AIMIM All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen
BJD Biju Janta Dal
BJP Bharatiya Janata Party
BSP Bahujan Samaj Party
CPI Communist Party of india
CPI-M Communist Party of India-Marxist
DMK Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
HRD Human Resource Development
H&FW Health and Family Welfare
HA Home Affairs
I&B Information and Broadcasting
IFDP Indian Federal Democratic Party
IMR Infant Mortality Rate
INC Indian National Congress
IND Independent
JD-S Janata Dal-Secular
JD-U Janta Dal-United
L&E Labour and Employment
ABBREVIATIONS
LJSP Lok Jan Shakti Party
LSSQ Lok Sabha Starred Question
LSUSQ Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
MMR Maternal Mortality Rate
MOSJE Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
NCP Nationalist Congress Party
NPF Nagaland People’s Front
PMK Pattali Makkal Katchi
RJD Rashtriya Janata Dal
RPI-A Republican Party of India (Athawale)
RSP Revolutionary Socialist Party
RSSQ Rajya Sabha Starred Question
RSUSQ Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question
SDF Sikkim Democratic Front
SP Samajwadi Party
SS Shiv Sena
TA Tribal Affairs
TDP Telugu Desam Party
YA&S Youth Affairs and Sports
ii

11
Parliament is the main policy-making body. The policies and laws made
by Parliament have ramifications on the life and livelihood of all persons
in the country. Children do not vote and hence lack a political voice.
Indeed, as adults we often forget that they are citizens with equal
rights and constitute a third of India’s population. Need less to say
they have no participation in formulating, discussing or making policies
because they are neither a part of the bureaucracy nor of the legislature.
Over the last year, in our series of booklets entitled “Says a Child…Who
Speaks for My Rights?” we have been examining the interest that
parliamentarians have taken in child-related issues through questions
they have raised in the zero hour. Questions in Parliament are meant
to seek information as well as fix accountablity.
What are the issues being discussed? Which are the parties raising the
questions? Will these questions impact policies and programmes? Is
there a consistent lobby for child rights? How are the issues identified?
On what sources of information do parliamentarians base their
questions? How pertinent are the questions?
However, it is not enough to raise a question––how it is worded and
what is asked is equally important. That determines the response the
government gives.
For convenience of analysis, we have classified the questions in a
systematic manner. All 232 child-related questions have been catagorised
into four sectors:
Development Health
Education and Protection
Each sector has been further divided into subsectors based on the
relevant concerns and issues within it. While the questions have been
selected from the printed booklets available in Parliament, the answers
have been downloaded from the internet. Although all questions have
been examined and listed in tables at the end of each chapter, it is not
1
INTRODUCTION
Box No 1: Guidelines for asking a question
A question should:
not exceed 150 words in Lok Sabha and 100 words in Rajya Sabha.
be expressed clearly and precisely.
be asked for the purpose of obtaining information on a matter of public
importance.
not contain arguments, inferences, ironical expressions, imputations,
epithets or defamatory statements.
not ask about proceedings in a parliamentary committee which have
not been placed before the Council by a report from the committee.
not seek information about matters that are by their nature secret, such
as, composition of cabinet committees, cabinet discussions, etc.
not ordinarily ask for information on matters that are under consideration
of a parliamentary committee.
not ask about matters pending before any statutory tribunal or authority
or any commission or court of enquiry.
Starred, Unstarred Questions
A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in
the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. When a
question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked
thereon. Only 20 questions can be listed for oral answer on a day.
An Unstarred Question is one which is not called for oral answer in the
House and on which no supplementary questions can consequently be
asked. To such a question, a written answer is deemed to have been
laid on the Table after the Question Hour by the Minister to whom it is
addressed. It is printed in the official report of the sitting of the House
for which it is put down. Only 230 questions can be listed for written
answer on a day.

2
possible to include the full texts of all the questions and answers. Under
each subsector some illustrative questions with answers have been
presented. These provide important information and data on government
commitments and priorities, and programme implementation and its
impact.
In consonance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that
India has ratified and as defined in the Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection) Act, 2000, we have included all questions pertaining to
children in the age group 0-18 years.
Children in Parliament in 2003-04
The following were the highlights of the three sessions of Parliament
in 2003-04:
1. In all 28,227 questions were raised in the three sessions in the
two houses of Parliament together. Of these, 843 questions, thst
is a mere 3%, were child focused (Lok Sabha, 424 and Rajya Sabha
419).
Table 1.2. Distribution of Questions in Parliament 2003-04
(%)
House Budget Monsoon Winter Total
Session Session Session 2003
Lok Sabha 52 45 53 50
Rajya Sabha 48 55 47 50
House Category Sectors Total
of Questions
Questions Develop- Health Educa- Protec- (Category-
ment tion tion wise)
Lok Starred 9 9 28 16 62
Sabha
Unstarred 58 35 200 69 362
Rajya Starred 3 5 27 12 47
Sabha
Unstarred 28 46 224 74 372
Total
Questions
(Sector- 98 95 479 171 843
wise) (12%) (11%) (57%) (20%) (100%)
Table 1.1: Child-related questions in 2003-2004
Budget Session Monsoon Session Winter Session Total for 2003-04
House Child Child Child Child
Total No. % Total No. % Total No. % Total No. %
Lok Sabha 7641 209 2.7 4489 105 2.3 3755 110 2.9 15885 424 2.7
Rajya Sabha 5961 192 3.2 3757 130 3.5 2624 97 3.7 12342 419 3.4
Total 13602 401 2.9 8246 235 2.8 6379 207 3.2 28227 843 3.0
Table 1.3: Sector-wise Distribution of Child-related Parliament
Questions 2003-04
2. In the Budget Session, 209 (52%) child-focused questions were
raised in the Lok Sabha and 192 (48%) in the Rajya Sabha; in the
Monsoon Session this distribution was 105 questions (45%) in the
Lok Sabha and 130 (55%) in Rajya Sabha and in the Winter Session
110 (53%) in the Lok Sabha and 97 (47%) in the Rajya Sabha.
3. The largest proportion of these questions, that is, 479 questions
(57%) were on education, 171 (20%) on protection, 98 (12%) on
development issues and 95 (11%) related to health (see Table 1.3).

33
4. Our analysis shows that there appears to be a link between the
kind of questions raised and the ongoing debates in the country,
especially those highlighted by the media. However, the analysis
also shows that these lack passion and force that such issues
deserve.
5. It is a matter of concern that the health of children receives
such little attention from our parliamentarians. This is a cause
for worry since both morbidity and mortality levels of the
children in the country still remain high – especially since most
of these deaths could be easily averted, as they are due to
vaccine preventable diseases. While the scenario is gloomy at
the front of tackling the conventional diseases there are new
diseases that are emerging due to deterioration in
environmental conditions and other reasons.
Given the controversies surrounding education, it was not surprising
to find our parliamentarians too interested in this area, which is
why the largest number of questions was on education. Of all the
child protection-related issues, it was child labour that elicited the
most attention. This is heartening because India enjoys the dubious
distinction of having the largest number of working children in
the world, some are as young as three or four years old. And yet,
we continue to find excuses to explain away its continued existence,
the most common of them being poverty. This in spite of enough
evidence that child labour in the long run causes poverty and not
the other way round. The existence of child labour is a
contravention of the fundamental right to education for all children
in the 6-14 age group (Article 21A, Constitution of India). And
yet, none of the questions raised made this link.
7. Among all the political parties, the Indian National Congress
raised the maximum number of questions followed by the BJP.
But then they were the largest parties in parliament with the
maximum number of members and Congress was also the
largest opposition party. It is noteworthy that, despite its much
smaller size, it was the Himachal Vikas Party that
proportionately raised the largest number of questions. Indeed,
the consistent interest shown by the party throughout the year
is commendable.

4
To Parliamentarians– A Special Plea…
India is commited to its all children through the laws and policies, and
through the country’s ratification of international legal instruments.
The most important among these instruments is the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which India ratified in 1992. Since
then India has submitted two country reports to the UN Committee
on the Rights of the Child to report on progress made in its
implementation of rights of all children. The first report was
presented in 1997 and second in January 2004. Based on the
government’s report to the Committee and alternate reports (or
shadow reports by NGOs) the Committee makes its
recommendations to the government in what is known as the
“Concluding Observations”. The Concluding Observations made by
the Committee in 2004 have been included in this booklet (See
Appendix 1 for the full text of Concluding Observations). These
can guide our parliamentarians in their discussions and deliberations.
This will also be a useful guide to follow up on action by the
government.
While the late 1980s and the
decade of the 1990s saw the
establishment of the rights
framework, this decade seems
to have marked the beginning
of its dilution and erosion—
in India and the world. There
suddenly appears to be a
hesitation to even use rights-based language, especially with regard to
children. This is nowhere more evident than in the newly framed and
passed National Charter for Children which makes no reference to the
CRC or child rights. Indeed, in its formulation it is more a statement of
intent rather than of commitment (The full text is available on the net,
or can be seen in Says a Child… Who Speaks for My Rights— Parliament
in Winter Session, 2003).
Often, the argument against a rights-based framework for children is
that it would make them individualistic and that this would be ‘against
the culture of our country’. What we forget is that as citizens of this
country they already have these rights. The second argument is: “How
can children have rights when they have no responsibilities?” Of course,
there are no rights without responsibilities. But as far as children are
concerned, just as they need age-specific interventions, their
responsibilities too be determined according to their age and mental
and physical capabilities.
The government now plans a National Commission for Children. But it
will make little sense to have another commission, unless it has teeth!
The National Plan of Action too has been drafted. In spite of alternative
drafts provided to the government by civil society groups, the recent
draft has incorporated hardly any suggestions. Commissions and plans
of actions are not made every day or every year. They are meant to
provide long-term vision and goals. Creating them in a hurry, with little
cognisance of comments and alternatives suggestions made by people
who will use them is the mark of an unresponsive government—not a
responsive and sensitive one.
We now need the help of our legislators, our MPs, to examine these
documents in the light of the comments they have elicited. We appeal
to you to be our voice in Parliament and raise our concerns. We will be
happy to provide you with the comments and suggestions made by
groups and networks across the country to make your interventions
more meaningful.
At a recent international conference organised by the M.V. Foundation
on education and elimination of child labour a parliamentarian from
the Netherlands explained the parameters that guide her in Parliament.
She said, “Every time there is a discussion on any proposal for children,
I ask myself: is it good enough for my child? That guides my decision.
Only if it is good enough for my child, is it good enough for all
children.”
“Every time I have to speak on some proposed child-related bill in Parliament,
I ask myself: is it good enough for my child? If not, it is not good enough
for any child in my country.”
Dr. Varina Tjon A Ten
Member of Parliament, Netherlands
This year the National Commission for
Children Bill and the National Plan of
Action for Children are going to be tabled
in Parliament. We need the help of our
legislators, our MPs, to carefully examine
these documents and raise our concerns
before Parliament.

55
This year we saw the elections of new parliament. Because of this,
instead of in February–March, the Budget Session was held in July-
August.
Now we have a new Parliament, a new government, with a new
Common Minimum Programme (CMP). Will this Parliament behave
differently? Will it be more child sensitive? The CMP and the Union
budget indicate greater commitment to education and other issues
concerning children. The CMP has also pledged to increase allocation
in public investment in elementary education and primary health to
improve the future of children in the country. Against this backdrop,
the budget session (2004) assumes more significance.
The total number of questions raised in Parliament in the Budget Session
2004-05 were 7326 (4916 in Lok Sabha and 2410 in Rajya Sabha). Of
these only 232 (3%) were child-related (118 in Lok Sabha and 115 in
Rajya Sabha). This was the trend in the previous year too.
2
BUDGET SESSION 2004-05
Once again, the largest number of questions was on education, i.e.,
133 (57 %). The interest in health remained low at 34 (15%) questions.
Questions on protection were 48 (21%) while there were 17(7%) on
development, (Table 2.1).
An analysis of the questions sector-wise (Table 2.1) helps us to know
which issues interest our parliamentarians. Similarly, listing MPs on the
basis of the questions raised by them (Table 2.4) reveals which MPs are
interested in child rights issues. This knowledge can help us identify
MPs who can be approached for advocating for children.
House Category Sectors Total
of Questions
Questions Develop- Health Educa- Protec- (Category-
ment tion tion wise)
Lok Starred 3 3 13 3 22
Sabha
Unstarred 10 20 43 22 95
Rajya Starred 1 2 19 4 26
Sabha
Unstarred 3 9 58 19 89
Total
Questions
(Sector- 17 34 133 48 232
wise) (7%) (15%) (57%) (21%)
Table 2.1: Child-focused Parliament Questions in the
Table 2.2: Child-friendly Political Parties
Sl. No Political party No. of questions asked
1 Bharatiya Janata Party 78
2 Indian National Congress 69
3 Telugu Desam Party 28
4 Communist Party of India–Marxist 15
5 Shiv Sena 15
6 Samajwadi Party 13
7 Biju Janata Dal 9
8 Rashtriya Janata Dal 9
9 Janata Dal–United 7
10 National Congress Party 6
As seems to be the pattern, opposition parties take more initiative in
asking questions related to child rights (Tables 2.2 and 2.3).

6
Bills, Debates and Motions
Since the Winter Session of 2003, we have been analysing the Bills/
Debates/Motions of both houses of Parliament because these can be a
good resource for legislative advocacy. The full text of the debates run
into several pages. We have chosen here to present the relevant excerpts
(not always verbatim), taking care to retain the essence of the debate.
The Budget Session of 2004-05, saw fewer debates as compared to
previous session. There was not a single debate or discussion pertaining
to child rights in the Lok Sabha, other than expressing condolence on
the death of the children at Lord Krishna School at Kumbakonam in
Tamil Nadu.
However, Rajya Sabha members showed more interest and concern. This
is evident from the fact that in the Rajya Sabha there were nine debates/
discussion/special mentions directly related to child rights.
Table 2.3: Child-friendly Parliamentarians in the
Sl. No. Member of Parliament No.of questions asked Pol. Party
1 Ravi Shankar Prasad 7 BJP
2 N P Durga 6 TDP
3 Motilal Vora 5 INC
4 P K Maheswari 5 INC
5 A Vijayaraghavan 5 CPI-M
6 Kailash Baitha 4 JD-U
7 Shivraj Singh Chouhan 4 BJP
8 Datta Meghe 4 NCP

77
Table 2.4: Issues Raised by Child Friendly Parliamentarians
Sl. No MP Pol. Party Ref.No. Date Ministry Subject Sector
1 Ravi Shankar Prasad BJP RSUSQ 17 5- Jul HRD Expenditure on education Education
2 Ravi Shankar Prasad BJP RSUSQ 16 5- Jul HRD Funds for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Education
3 Ravi Shankar Prasad BJP RSSQ 85 12- Jul HRD Foreign investment in education Education
4 Ravi Shankar Prasad BJP RSUSQ 199 12- Jul HRD Expenditure on education Education
5 Ravi Shankar Prasad BJP RSSQ 189 19- Jul HRD Appointment of teachers Education
6 Ravi Shankar Prasad BJP RSUSQ 981 22- Jul L&E Elimination of child labour Protection
7 Ravi Shankar Prasad BJP RSUSQ 1211 16- Aug HRD Vocational education Education
1 N P Durga TDP RSUSQ 122 9-Jul H&FW UNICEF’s World Children Report (IMR) Health
2 N P Durga TDP RSSQ 99 12- Jul HRD Provisions for free schooling Education
3 N P Durga TDP RSUSQ 450 15- Jul L&E Percentage of domestic working children Protection
4 N P Durga TDP RSUSQ 1709 19- Aug L&E Indo-US cooperation on eliminating child labour Protection
5 N P Durga TDP RSUSQ 1883 20- Aug H&FW Non-survival of infants in paediatric Health
wards of Safdarjung Hospital
6 N P Durga TDP RSSQ 276 23- Aug H&FW Supply of vaccines in PHCs Health
1 Motilal Vora INC RSSQ 100 12- Jul HRD Malpractices in public schools Education
2 Motilal Vora INC RSUSQ 654 19- Jul HRD Schemes for anganwadi workers Development
3 Motilal Vora INC RSUSQ 980 22- Jul L&E Plight of child workers in Rajasthan Protection
4 Motilal Vora INC RSUSQ 1108 23- Jul HFW Sex determination test Protection
5 Motilal Vora INC RSUSQ 1723 19- Aug L&E Plight of mine child workers in Rajasthan Protection
1 P K Maheswari INC RSSQ 95 12- Jul MOSJE Adopted child home scheme Protection
2 P K Maheswari INC RSUSQ 574 16-Jul H&FW Delivery deaths Health
3 P K Maheswari INC RSUSQ 576 16- Jul H&FW Polio cases Health

8
4 P K Maheswari INC RSUSQ 575 16- Jul H&FW National Polio Eradication Programme Health
5 P K Maheswari INC RSUSQ 1240 16- Aug HRD Development of education in Madhya Pradesh Education
1 A Vijayaraghavan CPI-M RSSQ 12 5- Jul HRD Distortion of facts in NCERT books Education
2 A Vijayaraghavan CPI-M RSUSQ 196 12-Jul HRD Foreign investment in elementary education Education
3 A Vijayaraghavan CPI-M RSUSQ 638 19- Jul HRD Anganwadi centres Development
4 A Vijayaraghavan CPI-M RSUSQ 1252 16- Aug HRD Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi Education
5 A Vijayaraghavan CPI-M RSUSQ 1215 16- Aug HRD Irregularities in recruitment of teachers Education
1 Shivraj Singh Chouhan BJP LSUSQ 259 6- Jul HRD Education to minority communities Education
2 Shivraj Singh Chouhan BJP LSSQ 88 12-Jul YA&S Centrally sponsored schemes for Development
development of sports
3 Shivraj Singh Chouhan BJP LSSQ 211 20-Jul HRD Integrated Child Development Scheme Development
4 Shivraj Singh Chouhan BJP LSUSQ 3671 23-Aug L&E Bonded child labour in circus Protection
1 Kailash Baitha JD-U LSUSQ 39 5- Jul L&E Indo-US venture for elimination of child labour Protection
2 Kailash Bhatia JD-U LSUSQ 1794 20- Jul HA Criminal training to children Protection
3 Kailash Baitha JD-U LSUSQ 2830 17- Aug HRD Implementation of midday meal scheme Education
4 Kailash Baitha JD-U LSSQ 302 17 Aug HRD Fire safety in schools Education
1 Datta Meghe NCP RSUSQ 652 19-Jul HRD Affairs of Kendriya Vidyalayas Education
2 Datta Meghe NCP RSUSQ 653 19- Jul HRD Environment as compulsory subject Education
3 Datta Meghe NCP RSUSQ 1238 16- Aug HRD Three-language formula Education
4 Datta Meghe NCP RSUSQ 1210 16- Aug HRD Education policy for disabled children Education
Note: LSSQ : Lok Sabha Starred Question LSUSQ : Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
RSSQ : Rajya Sabha Starred Question RSUSQ : Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question
Line in bold : Full text of Q/A given in chapter
Source: Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha, List of Questions for (a) Oral answers (b) Written answers
www.parliamentofindia.nic.in
Sl. No MP Pol. Party Ref.No. Date Ministry Subject Sector

99
3
DEVELOPMENT
The developmental needs of children are different at different stages
of their life cycle and vary according to their mental and physical
capability. This requires interventions in the early years of their life, as
also in the areas of education, recreation-leisure, sports, etc. Education
being such a vast subject by itself, has been dealt with separately. All
other issues concerning the overall developmental needs of children,
including overall laws and policies, etc., have been included in this
chapter.
The Indian government’s commitment to the rights of the child has
been affirmed in a number of documents, including the Constitution,
but in real terms very little seems to have changed in the lives of the
children of the country.
India has the highest level of undernourished children in the world,
along with Bangladesh and Nepal. In fact, as far as the general situation
of children is concerned, Bangladesh now seems to be doing better
than India (see Box No 2).
Table 3.1: Government of India’s Goals and Targets
GOAL SET BY TARGET/ GOAL
Constitution of India, Article 39(f) …the state shall, in particular, direct its
policy towards ensuring that children are
given opportunities and facilities to
develop in a healthy manner and in
conditions of freedom and dignity, and
that childhood and youth are protected
against exploitation and moral and
material abandonment
National Policy for Children, 1974 Policy of the state to provide adequate
services to children both before and after
birth, to ensure full physical, mental and
social development
National Policy on Education, 1986 Focus on Early Childhood Care and
Education: recognises and reiterates the
need for interventions for the crucial 0-
6 age group
National Plan of Action, 1992 Reduction in severe and moderate mal-
nutrition among under-5 children by half
between 1990 and the year 2000 A.D.
Reduction in incidence of low birth
weight (2.5 kg or less) babies
Control of Vitamin A deficiency and its
consequence
Expansion of early childhood
development activities including
appropriate low-cost family and
community-based interventions
10th Five Year Plan (2002-07) Universalisation of ICDS will be achieved
during the Tenth Plan in all the 5652
blocks of the country
Box No 2: Child Development Indicators in India and Neighbouring Countries
Indicators India Bangladesh Nepal Pakistan Sri
Lanka
Infant Mortality rate 67 51 66 83 17
(per 1,000 live births), 2002
Children (below 5 years) 47 48 48 38 29
under weight for age (1995-2002)
Children (below 5 years) under 46 45 51 37 14
height for age (1995-2002)
Maternal mortality rate, 2000 540 380 740 500 92
Source: Human Development Report 2004

10
The universalisation of the ICDS is one of the important steps taken
by the government towards the realisation of its commitments (Table
3.1). Started in 1975 this scheme aims at holistic care and development
of children (0-6 years) and addresses the health, nutrition and pre-
school educational needs of young children in an integrated manner.
Though the schemes primary focus is on children, it also caters to the
needs of pregnant and lactating mothers as well as those of adolescent
girls.
The ICDS has been able to cover 3.41 crore children in the age group
0-6 years as on March 31, 2004, which is 22% of the total population
of the children in this age group. Of the 3.41 crore children receiving
supplementary nutrition, 53% are reported to be undernourished. The
allocation per child made by the state governments for nutrition has
not been increased in recent years. The centre’s allocation of the
abysmally low norm of Re 1 per beneficiary per day on an average
(which includes the cost of food, transport, administration, fuel and
condiments) has not been revised since 1991.
An analysis of the 2004-05 budget has shown that 0.42% of the Union
budget and 17.3% of the total child budget has been allocated for
child development-specific programmes and interventions. The largest
allocation in child development is for the ICDS (96.5% of the total child
development budget). But there has been a decline of 8.2% in the
budgetary allocation for the ICDS compared to 2003-04 (HAQ: 2004).
Thus the current allocation may not be sufficient to universalise the
ICDS even for children below the poverty line, especially because of the
closure of the World Bank-assisted projects and the ICDS training
programme. If the CMP’s promise of universalisation of ICDS services is
to be realised, the number of trained anganwadi workers has to be
increased and the running cost of anganwadi centres has to be raised.
In this Budget Session, seventeen questions were raised on the issue of
child development, which is 7% of the total child-related questions raised
in the session. Of these, 47 questions were on the ICDS. They were
related to coverage of the ICDS programme, and steps taken on Supreme
Court order to the central and state government on non-implementation
of the ICDS. There was one question on programmes for anganwadi
workers. This question also included the issue of low salary being paid
to anganwadi workers.
3.1 CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES
(a) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme
[Ref. No: RSSQ 13, 5 July 2004]
Smt. Alkaben Balaram Bhai Kshatraiya (INC) and T. Subbarami Reddy
(INC) asked:
(a) whether one of the oldest programmes meant for the children
below age of six, adolescent girls and pregnant women have not
been implemented properly for the last 30 years;
(b) if so, whether the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme
has been able to cater to only sixteen per cent of the
undernourished children;
(c) if so, whether the Supreme Court as per its order dated November
28, 2003 has asked the Central and State Governments as to why
this Scheme has not been implemented; and
(d) if so, Government’s reaction thereto?
Shri Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource and Development
answered:
(a) The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme launched
in 1975-76 is a nationwide. Early Childhood Care Programme which
aims at holistic development of children (0- 6 years) and pregnant
& lactating mothers from disadvantaged sections by providing a
package of services comprising supplementary nutrition,
immunisation, health check-up, referral services, pre-school non-
formal education and nutrition & health education. The number
of operational ICDS Projects has increased from 3946 at the end
of eighth Plan (1996-97) to 5267 as on 31.3.2004. Similarly, the
number of the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) have increased from
3.47 lakh Centres at the end of Eighth Plan (1996-97) to 6.49
lakh Centres as on 31.3.2004. During this period, the number of
supplementary nutrition beneficiaries including pregnant and
lactating mothers has also increased from 2.27 crore to 4.15 crore.
As against the expenditure of Rs.4556.52 crore incurred on the
scheme in the Ninth Plan, the Tenth Plan allocation for the scheme

1111
is Rs.10391.75 crore which is more than double the expenditure
incurred during the Ninth Plan. This is also an important subject
under CMP of the Government which states that the UPA will
universalise the ICDS scheme to provide a functional Anganwadi
in every settlement and ensure coverage for all children.
(b) The ICDS scheme has been able to cover 3.41 crore children in
the 0-6 years age group as on 31.3.2004 which is around 22% of
the total children in that age group. Of the 3.41 crore children
receiving supplementary nutrition, 53% are reported to be
undernourished.
(c) & (d) The Supreme Court has vide its order dated 28.11.2003 directed
the States/Union Territories to provide supplementary nutrition to
all eligible beneficiaries as per nutritional norms of the Scheme
and have a disbursement centre in every settlement. As per the
scheme, providing supplementary nutrition and programme
implementation is the responsibility of the State Governments. The
Central Government has requested the States, from time to time,
to ensure compliance of the Supreme Court’s order and effectively
implement the programme.
(b) Anganwadi Centres
[Ref.No: RSUSQ 638, 19 July 2004]
Shri A. Vijayaraghavan (CPI-M) asked:
(a) whether the Supreme Court ordered that the number of anganwadi
centers administering the Integrated Child Development Scheme
to be increased from 600,000 to 1.4 million;
(b) if so, the number of anganwadi covered under the Integrated Child
Development Scheme and the grant sanctioned for construction of
kitchen sheds for cooking as on today, State-wise, category-wise;
(c) whether the Supreme Court, during year 2001, directed all the
States to introduce a Mid-Day Meal Scheme for the student in
Government and Government aided schools; and
(d) if so, the number of the schools, students covered under the Mid-
Day Meal scheme during the last three years, year-wise, category-
wise and State-wise?
Smt Kanti Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource
and Development answered:
(a) The Supreme Court, vide its order dated 29.4.2004, has directed
the Government of India to file an affidavit stating the period
within which it proposes to increase the number of Anganwadi
Centres (AWCs) so as to cover 14 lakh habitations.
(b) State-wise number of sanctioned and operational AWCs under
the ICDS Scheme is given in the Annexure-I (see Table 3.3).
There is no provision for construction of kitchen sheds for
cooking under the ICDS Scheme. However, construction of 8816
AWCs has been sanctioned under the World Bank-assisted
Project, the State-wise break-up of which is given in the
Annexure-II (see Table 3.4). Estimated cost of these AWCs is
Rs.1.25 lakh per Centre, which is borne by the Central
Government and State Government in the ratio 75: 25.
Construction of Anganwadi Centres has also been sanctioned
for NE States, including Sikkim as a special case, State-wise
details of which are given in the Annexure-III (see Table 3.5).
Estimated cost of these AWCs is also Rs.1.25 lakh per Centre,
which is entirely funded by the Government of India.
(c) Yes, Sir.
(d) The information is given in the statement annexed and marked as
Annexure (the Annexure IV is not available on the net).

12
Table: 3.2: State-wise Sanctioned and Operational Anganwadi Centres
under the ICDS Scheme (as on 31.3.2004)
Sl. No State/UT Sanctioned Operational
1. Andhra Pradesh 54312 53564
2. Arunachal Pradesh 2359 2286
3. Assam 25416 25302
4. Bihar 60813 24871
5. Chhattisgarh 20289 20277
6. Goa 1012 1012
7. Gujarat 37961 35441
8. Haryana 13546 13546
9. Himachal Pradesh 7354 7354
10. Jammu & Kashmir 11821 10227
11. Jharkhand 15505 14967
12. Karnataka 40301 40301
13. Kerala 25393 24415
14. Madhya Pradesh 49784 48824
15. Maharashtra 62716 58109
16. Manipur 4501 4499
17. Meghalaya 2218 2217
18. Mizoram 1361 1341
19. Nagaland 2770 2770
20. Orissa 34201 34201
21. Punjab 15829 14016
22. Rajasthan 35821 35686
23. Sikkim 500 500
24. Tamil Nadu 42377 30059
25. Tripura 3786 3692
26. Uttar Pradesh 103104 75005
27. Uttaranchal 6378 5924
28. West Bengal 57540 53354
29. A & N Islands 527 429
30. Chandigarh 300 300
31. Delhi 3902 3842
32. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 138 138
33. Daman & Diu 87 87
34. Lakshadweep 74 74
35. Pondicherry 677 677
Total 744673 649307
Table 3.3: State-wise Anganwadi Centres Sanctioned for Construction
under World Bank Assisted Projects
Sl.No Name of the State No. of AWCs for construction of
which funds have been released
1. Kerala 1600
2. Maharashtra 4453
3. Rajasthan 3333
4. Tamil Nadu 82
5. Uttar Pradesh 4548
6. Bihar 1430
7. Chhattisgarh 405
8. Jharkhand 581
9. Madhya Pradesh 1445
10. Orissa 1863
11. Uttaranchal 950
12. Gujarat 800
13. West Bengal 983
14. Karnataka 650
15. Haryana 408
16. Jammu & Kashmir 425
17. Punjab 500
18. Andhra Pradesh 8816
Table 3.4: State-wise Anganwadi Centres Sanctioned for Construction
in NE States and Funds Released
Sl. State No. of AWCs Funds released for
No Sanctioned construction in 2001-02 &
2002-03 (Rs. In Lakh)
1 Arunachal Pradesh 910 1900
2 Assam 7090 11535
3 Manipur 1315 2053.125
4 Meghalaya 700 1118.75
5 Mizoram 420 800
6 Nagaland 710 1275
7 Tripura 1160 2250
8 Sikkim 95 140.625

1313
(c) Children Film Complex
[Ref. No: LSUSQ 1130, 15 July 2004]
Shri S P Y Reddy (INC) asked:
(a) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh has sent any proposal
to the Union Government for the construction of a children’s Film
Complex which has been hosting the International Children’s Film
Festival since 1955;
(b) whether after initial approval the scheme was deleted from the
Tenth Five year Plan by the Planning Commission on the
recommendation of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting;
(c) if so, reasons annexed;
(d ) whether the Government would reconsider its decision and sanction
the project and release funds for the purpose;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) if not, the reasons annexed?
Shri S Jaipal Reddy, Minister of Information and Broadcasting answered:
(a) to (f) The International Children’s Film Festival is organised by the
Children’s Film Society, India, once every two years since 1979.
Collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh began in
1995. While the proposal of construction of Children’s Film Complex
at Hyderabad was under consideration [at different levels], the
Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC) recommended the winding
up of CFSI itself. It was felt that setting up a complete festival
complex with offices and theatres for a festival held for a duration
of seven days every two years would not justify the huge capital
investment required. Based on this, the scheme was taken out from
the 10th
Five Year Plan. However, a proposal to revive the project
of construction of a complex at Hyderabad is again under serious
consideration of the Ministry.
3.2 Youth Development
(a) Centrally Sponsored Schemes for Development of Sports
[Ref. No: LSSQ 88, 12 July 2004]
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan (BJP) and Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu (TDP) asked:
(a) the details of centrally sponsored schemes for providing basic
facilities for the development of sports in the country ;
(b) the details of facilities being provided under these schemes in each
State ; and
(c) the amount allocated for the purpose during the last three years,
State-wise ?
Shri Sunil Dutt, Minister of Youth affairs and Sports answered:
(a) There are four Centrally Sponsored Schemes for providing facilities
for the development of sports. These schemes are (i) Grants for
Creation of Sports Infrastructure; (ii) Grants to Rural School for
purchase of sports equipment and development of playground; (iii)
Grants for Promotion of Sports in Universities & Colleges; and (iv)
Grants for Installation of Synthetic Playing Surfaces.
(b) Under the above schemes, proposals of playfields, indoor stadium,
outdoor stadium, swimming pool, water/winter sports
infrastructure, shooting range, skating rink, velodrome, sports
hostel, District / State Level Sports Complex, purchase of sports
equipment, synthetic athletic track and synthetic hockey surface
are considered for Central assistance.
(c) No State-wise allocation is made under the above schemes.
Depending upon the receipt of viable proposals, admissible
assistance in accordance with the approved pattern is released.
The State-wise details of Central assistance provided under the
aforementioned schemes during the last three years have been
given in Table 3.5.

14
Table 3.5: State-wise Central Assistance Released to Rural Schools for
Purchase of Sports Equipment and Development of Playgrounds
(Rs. lakh)
Sl. States/ UTs 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004
No Amount No. of Amount No. of Amount No. of
released schools released schools released schools
1 Andhra Pradesh 0.00 0 1.12 1 0.375 1
2 Arunachal Pradesh 1.79 4 0 0 4.35 4
3 Assam 14 19 8.673 14 30.844 41
4 Bihar 0.93 1 1.716 2 3.295 3
5 Chhattisgarh 2.58 3 6.398 7 1.133 2
6 Delhi 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Goa 2.02 2 0.85 3 0 0
8 Gujarat 1.10 1 1.549 3 2.981 4
9 Haryana 42.92 50 12.64 24 43.369 59
10 Himachal Pradesh 33.25 32 9.97 12 5.725 15
11 Jammu & kashmir 0.90 2 1 2 3.178 3
12 Jharkhand 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Karnataka 18.57 19 25.08 29 16.754 26
14 Kerala 4.01 6 2.26 4 0 0
15 Madhya Pradesh 25.78 36 14.12 24 22.955 29
16 Maharashtra 16 18 35.766 46 51.639 58
17 Manipur 3.21 6 6.30 6 3.262 5
18 Meghalaya 0 0 0 0 1.087 1
19 Mizoram 0 0 0.75 1 0 0
20 Nagaland 3.25 5 5.125 17 0 0
21 Orissa 15.67 18 27.538 39 44.214 55
22 Punjab 8.10 10 4.785 6 2.562 3
23 Rajasthan 17.78 20 11.71 17 25.198 29
24 Sikkim 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 Tamil Nadu 77.29 75 15.93 45 7.659 21
26 Tripura 1.89 3 0.738 2 0.375 1
27 Uttar Pradesh 14.29 22 21.05 29 39.609 47
28 Uttaranchal 0 0 8.33 8 11.049 12
29 West Bengal 38.45 43 88.55 102 77.981 106
30 A & N Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 Chandigarh 0 0 0 0 0 0
32 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 Lakshadweep 0 0 0 0 0
34 Daman & Diu 0 0 0 0 0
35 Pondicherry 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 343.87 395 310.99 443 399.634 525
Note: The table giving the details of schemes for universities and colleges is not given
here because it does not relate to the 0-18 age group.
Deccan Herald, 18 November 2004, Bangalore Edition

1515
Table 3.6: Child-focused Questions on Development, Budget Session 2004-05
Sl.No. MP Pol.party M/F Ref No. Date Ministry Subject
POLICY
1 A K Moorthy PMK M LSUSQ 2792 17- Aug HRD UN charter of rights of children
2 Manoj Bhattacharya RSP M RSUSQ 128 9 -Jul H&FW National Population Policy
3 Suersh Chandel BJP M LSUSQ 3911 24- Aug HRD Child Rights
CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES
4 Nikhil Kumar Choudhary BJP M LSSQ 105 13- Jul HRD Anganwadi Kendras
5 Shivraj Singh Chouhan BJP M LSSQ 211 20-Jul HRD Integrated Child Development Scheme
Shri Prabodh Panda CPI M
6 S P Y Reddy INC M LSUSQ 1130 15- Jul I &B Children in Film Complex
7 Devi Das Pingle NCP M LSUSQ 269 6- Jul HRD Construction of buildings for Anganwadis
8 Jashu Bhai Dhana INC M LSUSQ 2706 17- Aug HRD Assistance under ICDS
Bhai Barad
9 Neeta Pateriy BJP F LSUSQ 2723 17- Aug HRD Approval of ICDS-III project
10 Bagida RamaKrishna INC M LSUSQ 2814 17- Aug HRD Balika Samridhi Youjana
Asauddin Owaisi AIMIM M
11 V K Thummar INC M LSUSQ 2825 17- Aug HRD Awareness camps organised by NIPCCD
12 Chandra Sekhar Dubey INC M LSUSQ 3915 24- Aug HRD Working of State Council of Child Welfare
13 Karunakara G. Reddy BJP M LSUSQ 4414 26- Aug I&B Children film society
14 Alkaben Balaram Bhai Kshatriya INC F RSSQ 13 5- Jul HRD Integrated Child Development Service
Dr.T Subbarami Reddy INC M
15 A Vijayaraghavan CPI-M M RSUSQ 638 19- Jul HRD Anganwadi Centres
16 Motilal Vora INC M RSUSQ 654 19- Jul HRD Schemes for Anganwadi Workers
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
17 Shivraj Singh Chouhan BJP M LSSQ 88 12-Jul YA & S Centrally sponsored schemes for
development of sports
Kinjarapu Yerrannidu TDP M
Source: Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha, List of Questions for (a) Oral answers (b) Written answers www.parliamentofindia.nic.in

16
An analysis of the questions raised in the three sessions of Parliament
in the previous year (2003-04) has revealed that our Parliamentarians
showed the least amount of interest in child health. Should the fact
that children in our country still suffer from extreme forms of
malnutrition, often leading to deaths, not be seen as a situation of
emergency? Should our elected representative not be worried that
malaria and diarrhoea continue to be major killers?
Over 500,000 children die
every year from diarrhoea,
though it has a very simple
cure. (Asha Krishnakumar:
2003). Despite claims,
tuberculosis, respiratory
infections and even the
much-publicised polio
continue to attack India’s
children.
Over the years, several
commitments have been
made. This year is the time for mid-term review of the commitments
made in the Tenth Plan. Health has been treated as a priority area by the
UPA government in its Common Minimum Programme. It promises to
raise public spending on health to at least 2-3 percent of GDP over the
next five years with a focus on primary health care. The UPA will set up
public investment in programmes to control all communicable diseases
and also provide leadership to the National AIDS control effort. However,
child health does not find any special focus in the CMP of the UPA
government, as it did not in the National Health Policy of 2002.
At the heart of the problem remains the abysmally low public health
expenditure— around 0.9 % of GDP, which is lower than the average
of low-income countries and even Sub-Saharan Africa, and well below
4
HEALTH
Constitution of India, Article 47 Directive Principles of State Plocy lays
down that it is the duty of the state to
raise the level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to improve public
health
National Health Policy, 1983 ‘Health for All by the Year 2000 AD.’
through the universal provision of
comprehensive primary health care
services
National Plan of Action for Reduction of infant mortality rate to less
Children, 1992 than 60 per 1,000 live births and
reduction of child mortality rate to less
than 10 by 2000 AD
Eradication of poliomyelitis by the year
2000 and elimination of neonatal
tetanus by 1995
Reduction by 95% in measles deaths and
reduction by 90% of measles cases
compared to pre-immunisation levels by
1995
Achievement of 100% immunisation
coverage for infants and against tetanus
for women of child-bearing age
Reduction by 50% in deaths due to
diarrhoea in children under the age of
5 years
Mortality rates due to ARI among
children under 5 by 40% by 2000 AD
from the present level
Box No 3: Incidents of Tuberculosis
among Children in India
A study conducted by the Central Tuberculosis
Division (CTD), a body of the central ministry
of Health, says that an estimated 1,100-1,900
out of every 1 lakh Indian children contract
tuberculosis every year. The study shows that
the annual risk of tuberculosis infection (ARTI)
is around 1-2% for children between the ages
of one and nine— up to 19 times higher than
the current ARTI for other developing
countries. (Indian Express:2004)

1717
(in 2004-05, only 23.95% of the total Union Budget of the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare was for child health) (HAQ: 2004). It is thus
surprising that India has one of the highest levels of private financing
(87%), with out-of-pocket expenses estimated at as high as 84.6%
(World Bank, 2001). This is reflected in the pattern of allocations towards
programmes and schemes from the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, which have been 1.77%, 1.74% and 1.85% of the total budget
allocations of the Union Budget in the years 2004-05, 2003-04 and
2002-03 respectively (Expenditure Budget, 2002-2005).
National Health Policy, 2002 To achieve an acceptable standard of
good health among the population by
increasing access to decentralised public
health system and by establishing or
upgrading the infrastructure in the
existing institutions
Reduce IMR to 30/1000 and MMR to
100/100,000 by 2010
Eradicate polio and yaws and eliminate
leprosy by 2005
Improve nutrition and reduce proportion
of LBW babies from 30% to 10% by
2010
Reduce mortality by 50% on account of
TB, malaria and Other Vector and Water
Borne diseases by 2010
Reduce Prevalence of Blindness to 0.5%
by 2010
Achieve zero level growth of HIVAIDS by
2007
10th Five Year Plan 2002-07 Reduction of infant mortality rates to 45
per thousand live births by 2007 and to
28 by 2012
International Conference on Efforts should be made by all the states
Population and to reduce the infant mortality rate by
Development (ICPD), Cairo 1994 one-third by the year 2000
Millennium Development Goals Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and
(MDG) 2015, the under-five mortality rate (goal
4)
Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990
and 2015, the maternal mortality rate
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
diseases
Table 4.2: Share of Child Health in the Union Budget of
2002-03 to 2004-05
(Rs. Crore)
Programmes 2002-03 2002-03 2003-04 2003-04 2004-05
and (BE) (RE) (BE) (RE) (BE)
Schemes
1. Kalawati Saran 14.36 14.50 14.70 15.08 17.25
Children’s Hospital,
New Delhi
2. BCG Vaccine 4.73 4.60 5.95 6.33 6.05
Laboratory, Guindy,
Chennai
3. Reproductive and 800.53 445.54 712.41 442.35 710.51
Child Health Project
4. Strengthening of 597.84 460.10 702.00 763.20 1186.40
Immunisation Prog. &
Eradication of Polio
5. Maternity Benefit 81.00 65.00 67.50 40.00 101.00
Scheme
Total estimates on 1498.46 989.74 1502.56 1266.96 2021.21
Child Health
Total Estimates of 7581.83 6654.49 7620.08 7470.08 8438.12
H&FW
Child health budget 19.76 14.87 19.72 16.96 23.95
as % of H&FW
Total budget estimates 410309.47 404013.25 438795.07 474254.67 477829.04
Child health budget as 0.365 0.245 0.342 0.267 0.423
% of Union Budget
Source: Government of India Expenditure Budget 2003-2004, 2004-2005 (Vols. 1&2).
Note: All items under Min. of H&FW.
the average of 2.8% for low- and middle-income countries, and the
global average of 5.5% (India Health Report: 2003). Not even one-third
of the already inadequate health expenditure goes towards child health

18
This year’s budget session had 34 (15%) questions on child health, of
which 9 questions (26%) concerned Polio. Our analysis shows that 0.42%
of the Union Budget has been allocated for child health-specific
programmes and interventions, mostly in immunisation, leaving very
little money for the other five vaccine preventable diseases— childhood
tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertusis, measles and neonatal tetanus. This
despite the fact that 46.4% children in the country have not been
immunised against vaccine preventable diseases. (RSUSQ: 2003.)
Other issues raised included child mortality and infant mortality rates.
Some issues like children suffering from diarrhoea, malaria or
malnutrition are yet to receive adequate attention from our
parliamentarians. Despite wide coverage in the media, both print and
electronic, about severe malnutrition deaths among children in some
parts of Maharashtra and Orissa, only two questions were raised in the
Lok Sabha on this subject. Both the question raised and the answers
given were weak. For example, the response of the minister to the
question in infant mortality (RSUSQ, 122, 9 July) reflects little more
than Political Complacency. That the government should feel the need
to state that India is “better than Sub-Saharan African Countries in
terms of IMR” is in itself a cause of concern. The answer given by the
ministry that ‘the details of number of child deaths due to malnutrition
are not being centrally maintained’, (LSUSQ: 2004) once again reflects
the indifferent attitude of the government.
4.1 HEALTH PROBLEMS
(a) Deaths of Tribal Children
[Ref. No: LSUSQ 2058 21 July 2004]
Shri Kamat Gurudas (INC) asked:
(a) whether tribal children have died due to malnourishment-related
causes in Maharashtra as reported in ‘The Times of India‘ dated
July 6, 2004;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein;
(c) whether as per the UNICEF figures, about 2.3 million children under
the age five die annually in our country; and
(d) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to
save the children from mal-nourishment?
Smt. Panabaka Laksmi, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare answered:
(a) & (b) As per information received from the Government of
Maharashtra, during the month of April and May, 2004, 1041
children died due to various reasons like low birth weight,
prematurity, pneumonia, birth asphyxia, febrile convulsions etc. Out
of the aforesaid deaths, only 59 children were malnourished.
(c) As per the UNICEF report entitled ‘The State of the World’s Children
2004’, 2.3 million children under five die annually in India.
(d) The Government has initiated several measures to improve the
nutritional status of vulnerable population, including children, in
the country including the State of Maharashtra to overcome the
problem of malnutrition, as under: -
- Increased Agricultural Production.
- Improving the purchasing power of the people through
income generating schemes.
- Availability of essential food items at subsidized cost through
Public Distribution System.
- Nutrition education to increase the awareness and bringing
about the desired changes in the feeding practices including
promotion of breast feeding.
- Supplementary feeding programmes such as:
i) Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS).
ii) Special Nutrition Programme (SNP).
iii) Balwadi Nutrition Programme (BNP).
iv) Wheat Based Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
v) Pradhan Mantri Grameen Yojna (PMGY).
vi) Mid-day Meal Programme.

1919
Programme for Prevention of Specific Nutrient Deficiency Disorders
such as:
National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme.
Programme to prevent Blindness due to Vitamin ‘A‘ deficiency and
Nutritional Anaemia due to Iron deficiency is a part of reproductive
and Child Health Programme.
(b) Children Infected by Flourosis
[Ref. No: LSSQ 42, 7 July 2004]
Smt. Neeta Pateriya (BJP) asked:
(a) whether the Government is aware that thousands of children are
suffering from flourosis due to drinking of fluoride contaminated
drinking water in some of the States;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether thousands of children residing in Shivni, Jabalpur,
Narsingpur etc. districts of Madhya Pradesh are also similarly
affected;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government
in this regard?
Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of Health and Family Welfare
answered:
(a) to (e): Based on the UNICEF Report of 1999 on fluorine content of
the drinking water in the country, flourosis is a problem in 19
States which are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka,
Orissa, Punjab, Maharasthra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Tamil
Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Delhi, Jammu &
Kashmir, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. It is estimated that 6 million
children below the age of 14 years are at risk. 14 districts of
Madhya Pradesh including Seoni district are endemic for flourosis
due to fluoride content in drinking water.
The Government of Madhya Pradesh has denied the reports that
thousands of children are suffering from flourosis in various districts
such as Seoni, Jabalpur and Narsingpur. Minor prevalence of
flourosis was observed before the year 2001, but no such situation
has been reported in last two years. It has further been stated
that the sources found to be containing fluoride have been replaced
by safe drinking water source.
Flourosis is combated by provision of safe drinking water.
Provision of safe drinking water is a state subject. However,
Government of India supplements the efforts of the State
Governments/Union Territories by providing funds under the
Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) and Prime
Minister’s Gramodya Yojana (PMGY) for tackling quality related
problems and sustainability issues in respect of rural drinking
water supply. Department of Drinking Water Supply is involved
in collecting data on flourosis endemicity in the States. Along
with the Department of Drinking Water Supply, UNICEF has
supplied ion-meters to different states for estimation of fluoride
in drinking water. National Institute of Communicable Diseases is
providing training to Public Health Engineers and Medical
professionals from various States/Union Territories including
Madhya Pradesh to generate awareness about flourosis and
check the spread of flourosis in the country.
(c) Child Mortality Rate In Government Hospitals
[Ref.No LSSQ 323 18 August 2004]
Shri Anant Nayak (BJP) and Vijay Kumar Malhotra (BJP) asked:
(a) whether there is any provision for conducting preventive checks
to provide better medical facilities in Government hospitals like
Safdarjung, Dr. R.M.L. Hospital and AIIMS;
(c) whether the Government has identified the hospitals in Delhi where
the child mortality rate is on the increase;
(d) if so, the reasons therefore; and
(e) the remedial measures proposed to be taken in this regard?
Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss Minister of Health and Family Welfare answered:
(a) to (e): The medical facilities available in various Central Government
Hospitals like Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. R.M.L. Hospital, Lady

20
Harding Medical College and Associated Hospitals and All India
Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, which are multi-
disciplinary treatment institutions, are reviewed periodically. The
required upgradation of the facilities both by way of addition of
sophisticated equipments and introduction of treatment facilities
in various new areas of specialty/ super-specialty are undertaken
in order to ensure that better health care facilities are provided
to needy patients. These hospitals provide tertiary care facilities
to large section of patients not only from Delhi but also from
adjoining States and other parts of the country. There are also
in-built mechanism both within the hospital and the Department
of Health to ensure that the standard of health care facilities
provided in these hospitals is maintained.
In pursuance of various reports on unusual deaths in paediatric
wards of Safdarjung Hospital, the position of child mortality for
the last three years in three major Government Hospitals in Delhi
wherein large number of children are treated viz. Safdarjung
Hospital, Kalawati Saran Children Hospital and Lok Nayak Hospital,
was reviewed. The data, however, has not indicated any unusual
rise in the child mortality rate in these hospitals in recent past.
It was also observed that majority of the deaths are within 48
hours of admission and attributed to multiple diseases like Cardio-
Respiratory Failure, Severe Pneumonia, Severe Dehydration and
Shock, serious CNS infections, Congenital Abnormalities and Sepsis
etc.
(d) Polio Cases
[Ref. No: LSUSQ 1032, 14 July 2004]
Shri Raghunath Jha (RJD) asked:
(a) the number of polio cases detected during each of the last three
years, State-wise;
(b) whether any State in the country has been declared polio free;
and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
Table 4.3: State-wise Polio Cases from 2001 to 2004
(Figures upto 3rd July)
Sl. Name of the State/ Wild Poliovirus
No Union Territories 2001 2002 2003 2004
1. Andhra Pradesh 0 0 21 1
2. A&N Islands 0 0 0 0
3. Arunachal Pradesh 0 0 0 0
4. Assam 1 0 1 0
5. Bihar 27 121 18 4
6. Chandigarh 0 1 0 0
7. Chhattisgarh 0 1 0 0
8. D & N Haveli 0 0 0 0
9. Daman & Diu 0 0 0 0
10. Delhi 3 24 3 1
11. Goa 0 0 0 0
12. Gujarat 1 24 3 0
13. Haryana 5 37 3 0
14. Himachal Pradesh 0 0 0 0
15. Jammu & Kashmir 0 1 0 0
16. Jharkhand 2 12 1 0
17. Karnataka 0 0 36 0
18. Kerala 0 0 0 0
19. Lakshadweep 0 0 0 0
20. Madhya Pradesh 0 21 11 0
21. Maharashtra 4 6 3 1
22. Manipur 0 0 0 0
23. Meghalaya 0 0 0 0
24. Mizoram 0 0 0 0
25. Nagaland 0 0 0 0
26. Orissa 0 4 2 0
27. Pondicherry 0 0 0 0
28. Punjab 5 2 1 0
29. Rajasthan 0 41 4 0
30. Sikkim 0 0 0 0
31. Tamil Nadu 0 0 2 1
32. Tripura 0 0 0 0
33. Uttaranchal 3 14 0 0
34. Uttar Pradesh 216 1242 88 6
35. West Bengal 1 49 28 1
Total 268 1600 225 16

2121
Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and
(a) Number of polio cases detected during the last three years, State-
wise is annexed.
(b) & (c) No, Sir. No State in the country has been declared polio free.
However, in 15 States/UTs (Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar
Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Lakshadweep,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Pondicherry, Sikkim,
Tripura and Andaman & Nicobar Island) no polio cases have been
detected for past three years (see Table 4.3).
(e) Diabetes In Children
[Ref. No: LSUSQ 1019 14 July 2004]
Shri Mahesh Kumar Kanodia (BJP) asked:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the number of children
suffering from Diabetes is continuously increasing;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the remedial measures taken/proposed to be taken by the
Government to overcome the spread of diabetes in children?
Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of Health and Family Welfare answered:
(a) to (c) As per clinical impression of practicing diabetologists, there
has been an increase in Type 2 diabetes, also known as Non-Insulin
Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) in children. This could be
due to increasing prevalence of obesity and stress among children
and also due to better diagnostic facilities and since diabetes is a
life style related disease, it is very important to adopt preventive
life style interventions for control of diabetes among children and
adults in the country. These interventions are emphasized through
information education and communication activities.
(f) UNICEF ‘s World Children Report
[Ref. No: RSUSQ 122, 9 July 2004]
Shri N P Durga (TDP) asked:
(a) Whether it is a fact that the recently released World’s Children
Report, 2004 of the UNICEF reveals that under-developed countries
like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka look after their children far better
than India in terms of health care and education;
(b) whether it is also a fact that in terms of infant mortality, India is
going only a little better than sub-Saharan African countries; and
(c) if so, the reasons behind this and action taken by Government on
the contents of the Report?
Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and
(a) According to the UNICEF report, state of the World’s children 2004
the infant mortality rate for India has declined from 146/1000 live
births in 1960 to 67/1000 live births in 2002. The infant’s mortality
rate in Bangladesh is 51/1000 live births and for Sri Lanka it is 17/
1000 live births. The percentage of under five suffering from under
weight is 47 for India and 48 for Bangladesh and 29 for Sri Lanka.
The percentage of infants with low birth rate is 30 for India and
30 for Bangladesh and 22 for Sri Lanka.
(b) According to the above-mentioned Report, the infant mortality
for India is 67/1000 live births, for countries in Sub-Saharan
Africa like Somalia 133/1000 live births, Sierra Leone 165/1000
live births, Niger 156/1000 live births, Ivory Cost 102/1000 live
births. Thus India is better than Sub-Saharan African countries in
terms of IMR.
(c) The Government of India has taken following steps to reduce
Infants Mortality rate to < 30/1000 live births by the year 2010:
a) A National Technical Committee on child health has been
constituted on 11th June, 2000 to look in to various issues
of neonatal care programme interventions in child health and
advise.
b) Formulated the National Population Policy, 2000.
c) National Health Policy in 2002 provides a framework for
provision of reproductive and child health services.
d) RCH outreach scheme has been initiated in the EAG states.
e) Multi year plan of action for provision of universal
immunization services has been formulated.

22
f) Interventions for control of pneumonia, diarrhoea, neonatal
care and improvement of infant feeding practices are being
implemented.
g) The proposal for Integrated Management of Childhood Illness
(IMNCI) is being considered by the Department of Family
Welfare for neonate and referral cases.
(g) Deaths of Children Due to Poor Hygiene
Shri Eknath K. Thakur (SS) asked:
(a) whether it is a fact that India has achieved the dubious distinction
of having the highest estimated number of children i.e., 5,19,500
dying from poor hygiene;
(b) whether it is a fact that seventy-two per cent people in India do
not have access to improved sanitation; and
(c) if so, the steps Government propose to take to improve sanitation
in the country?
Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and
(a) to (c) Information in respect of number of children dying from poor
hygiene is not centrally maintained. However, according to a
nationwide household survey carried out by National Samples Survey
Organization in 2002, 18% of urban dwellings do not have access
to toilet facilities. As per latest estimates provided by Ministry of
Rural Development, the rural population without access to sanitary
facilities is 65%. Sanitation is a State subject and the Government
of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments. Ministry
of Rural Development is running Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in
398 districts of the country in the field of rural sanitation with a
total outlay of Rs.3750 crores and proposes to extend the campaign
to all rural districts by the end of Tenth Plan. Hygiene education is
imparted to children under School Sanitation & Hygiene Education
(SSHE) programme of TSC to change hygiene behaviour. The Central
Government is also implementing the low Cost Sanitation Scheme
for flush latrines in urban areas.
(h) Delivery Deaths
[Ref. No:RSUSQ 574, 16 July 2004]
Shri P K Maheshwari (INC) asked:
(a) the number of deaths of women during delivery in the rural areas
during last year, State-wise along with district-wise details of
Madhya Pradesh; and
(b) whether Government would increase the number of obstetricians
in the rural areas to reduce the number of delivery deaths in these
areas?
Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi Minister of State in the ministry of Health and
(a) Data on the number of deaths during delivery in the rural areas
during last year, state-wise along with district-wise details of
Madhya Pradesh is not available. However, Maternal Mortality Rate
(MMR) for India and the major States for the year 1997 and 1998
as estimated by the Registrar General of India is given in the
annexure.
(b) The Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme is being
implemented in all States/Union Territories of the country with the
objective of bringing down infant and maternal mortality. Under
this programme, various interventions focused on reducing maternal
deaths through provision of essential obstetric care and emergency
obstetric care are being implemented. The interventions include
provision for hiring of doctors for visiting PHCs and CHCs once a
week for providing these services to pregnant women; provision
of funds for 24 hours delivery services at selected primary health
centers and community health center; provision of contractual staff
like staff nurses and additional health workers; hiring of anesthetists
for helping in emergency obstetric care and provision of referral
transport for pregnant women with complications of pregnancies.
Funds are also provided to the States for undertaking training of
Dais for improving the safe deliveries at home level.

2323
(h) Supply of Measles vaccines in PHCs
[Ref. No: RSSQ 276, 23 July 2004]
Shri Ravula Chandra Sekar Reddy (TDP) and N P Durga (TDP) asked:
(a) Whether it is a fact that on account of tender delays, supply of
measles vaccines ran out of stock to Primary Health Centres in the
country: and
(b) If so, the measurers taken to boast its supplies to prevent measles
deaths
Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare
answered:
(a)& (b) (PHCs) in Chattisgarh and NCT of Delhi. These States managed
to arrange supply of vaccines by adjustment of stocks from within
the State. The Government has taken following steps to ensure
timely supplies of vaccines during the current year:
Table 4.4: Maternal Mortality Rate in India and Bigger States
Major State MMR (1997) MMR (1998)
India 408 407
Andhra Pradesh 154 150
Assam 401 409
Bihar 451 452
Gujarat 29 28
Haryana 105 103
Karnataka 195 195
Kerala 195 198
Madhya Pradesh 498 498
Maharashtra 135 135
Orissa 361 367
Punjab 196 199
Rajasthan 677 670
Tamil Nadu 76 79
Uttar Pradesh 707 707
West Bengal 264 266
Source: RGI, SRS, 1997, 1998
(i) Making available the vaccines at PHCs from the buffer stock
of last year’s supply;
(ii) Placing advance supply order of 25% of this year’s
requirement; and strict monitoring of availability of the
Measles vaccines at Districts and PHCs
4.2 HEALTH POLICIES/ INTERVENTIONS
(a) Expenditure on Polio Programme
[Ref. No: LSSQ 432, 25 August 2004]
Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (INC) asked:
(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the
news item captioned “Rs.12 crore for 2 drops” as reported in the
Statesman dated July 15, 2004;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein;
(c) whether the Government had spent several crores on training
Government officials and volunteers to vaccinate children for 4
January and 4 April Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme this year;
(d) if so, the facts thereof;
(e) whether the Government proposes to curb such wasteful
expenditure; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of Health and Family Welfare answered:
(a)&(b) Government is aware of the news item captioned in ‘Rs.12 crore
for 2 drops‘ reported in the Statesman on 15th July, 2004.
(c)&(d) The training of the vaccinators is being undertaken on alternate
rounds. For one National Immunization Day round (NID), training
funds given to the States amount to Rs 3.4 crore @ Rs.20/- per
vaccinator. This includes cost of training material, cost of travel of
vaccinators to attend the training and providing the vaccinator a
cup of tea.

24
(e)&(f) Pulse polio programme is implemented to give polio drops to
all the children below 5 years of age throughout the country. Each
round has a fixed booth based activity on the first day followed
by two to six days of house to house visits by polio teams to give
vaccine to the children, who could not get the vaccine on the
booth day. The who were not vaccinators man the booth on the
first day of each round and on the next two to six days they
move from house to house to search and vaccinate the children
vaccinated on the booth day.
While the vaccinators move from house to house, they are also
expected to ensure that (i) the vaccine is maintained at a proper
temperature; (ii) each child who is being immunized should be
marked on the finger; (iii) each house visited should be marked
appropriately; and (iv) report to the supervisors on houses where
the vaccine could not be administered for the follow up visit. In
addition to these, the vaccinators are expected to be courteous
with the community and familiar with the frequently asked
questions. The vaccinators also undertake community mobilization
activities to inform the community the time and date when the
activities are planned to be held. The vaccinators are also expected
to fill up certain formats in relation to the above activities.
During each round, a good percentage of vaccinators get changed
due to a number of reasons. During each NID round, around 6.5
lakh booths are set up and nearly 25 lakh vaccinators are deployed
for the programme. In health sector, we are able to provide nearly
1.5 lakh vaccinators and the remaining vaccinators are drawn from
other government departments, NGOs local volunteers from the
community. The new entrant are required to be imparted training.
It is also necessary to give orientation to the old vaccinators for
informing them of the gaps found in the implementation of the
previous rounds. Some norms, processes, working formats and
instructions for the conduct of the programme also undergo
changes from time to time keeping in view the experience gained
and the new scenario. It is necessary to apprise the vaccinators of
these aspects and changes. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to
constantly upgrade the knowledge and skills of all the vaccinators
so that they are in a position to perform the tasks, in addition to
the task of administering vaccine.
Due to the scope and coverage of the programme, vastness of
the country, large numbers of vaccinators, the paramount need to
ensure quality implementation of the polio rounds with 100%
coverage of children, the repeated training of vaccinators is
absolutely essential and in the interest of the programme.
Times of India, 18 September, 2004, Delhi Edition

2525
Table 4.5: Child-focused Questions on Health, Budget Session 2004-05
Sl.No. MP Pol. party M/F Ref No. Date Ministry Subject
HEALTH PROBLEMS
1 Neeta Pateriya BJP F LSSQ 42 7-Jul H&FW Children infected by flourosis
2 Ananta Nayak BJP M LSSQ 323 18- Aug H&FW Child mortality rate in government
Vijay Kumar Malhotra BJP M hospitals
3 Dushyant Singh BJP M LSUSQ 1101 14-Jul H&FW Child mortality rate
4 Narendra Kumar Kushwaha BSP M LSUSQ 4053 25- Aug H&FW Polio Summit, 2004
Dhani Ram Shandil INC M
Kavuru Samba Siva Rao INC M
5 Raghunath Jha RJD M LSUSQ 1032 14-Jul H&FW Polio cases
6 Mahesh Kumar Kanodia BJP M LSUSQ 1019 14- Jul H&FW Diabetes in children
7 Sushil Kumar Modi BJP M LSUSQ 2967 18- Aug H&FW Death of children due to malnutrition
Ramesh Bais BJP M
Mohan Singh SP M
8 Dr M Jagannath TDP M LSUSQ 1056 14- Jul H&FW Short supply of measles vaccines
Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu TDP M
9 Ajit Kumar Singh JD-U M LSUSQ 1943 21- Jul H&FW Negligence in Safdarjung hospital
10 Adhalarao Shivajirao Patil SS M LSUSQ 1957 21- Jul H&FW Typhoid vaccines
11 Pankaj Chaudhary BJP M LSUSQ 2042 21- Jul H&FW Manufacture of new ORS for diarrhoea
12 Kamat Gurudas INC M LSUSQ 2058 21- Jul H&FW Deaths of tribal children
13 Kamat Gurudas INC M LSUSQ 2065 21- Jul H&FW Polio cases in Mumbai
14 S K Kaarvendhan INC M LSUSQ 2862 17- Aug HRD Iron deficiency among school children
15 Mahesh Kumar Kanodia BJP M LSUSQ 403 7- Jul H&FW Anaemia due to malnutrition
16 Sukdeo Paswan BJP M LSUSQ 4186 25- Aug H&FW Vaccination for Hepatitis A for children
17 Ravula Chandra Sekar Reddy TDP M RSSQ 276 23- Aug H&FW Supply of vaccines in PHCs
N P Durga TDP M
18 Kalraj Mishra BJP M RSSQ 77 9-Jul H&FW Sickel Cell Disease
19 N P Durga TDP M RSUSQ 122 9-Jul H&FW UNICEF’s World Children Report

26
Sl.No. MP Pol. party M/F Ref No. Date Ministry Subject
Source: Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha, List of Questions for (a) Oral answers (b) Written answers
www.parliamentofindia.nic.in
20 Eknath K. Thakur SS M RSUSQ 123 9- Jul H&FW Deaths of children due to poor hygiene
21 N P Durga TDP M RSUSQ 1883 20 Aug H&FW Non survival of infants in paediatric
wards of Safdarjung Hospital
22 PK Maheswari INC M RSUSQ 574 16-Jul H&FW Delivery deaths
23 PK Maheswari INC M RSUSQ 576 16- Jul H&FW Polio cases
24 K. Chandran Pillai CPI-M M RSUSQ 578 16- Jul H&FW Health problems in Kerala
25 Shahid Siddiqui SP M RSUSQ 583 16- Jul H&FW Infant mortality rate
HEALTH POLICIES/INTERVENTIONS
26 Narendra Kumar Kushwaha BSP M LSUSQ 2982 18- Aug H&FW Health related programmes for
women and children
27 Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury INC M LSSQ 432 25-Aug H&FW Expenditure on polio programme
28 Sunil Khan CPI-M M LSUSQ 1072 14- Jul H&FW One child/Two child norm policy
Prabodh Panda CPI
29 Adhalarao Shivajirao Patil SS M LSUSQ 3027 18- Aug H&FW Upgradation of maternal and
child health care hospital
30 Sukdeo Paswan BJP M LSUSQ 3077 18- Aug H&FW Mass vaccination programmes
31 P K Maheswari INC M RSUSQ 575 16- Jul H&FW National Polio Eradication Programme
32 Ambika Soni INC F RSUSQ 1851 20- Aug H&FW Polio eradication programme
Santosh Bagrodia INC M
33 B Vinod Kumar TRS M LSUSQ 459 7- Jul H&FW Irregularities in implementing
Pulse Polio programme
34 Sushil Kumar Modi BJP M LSUSQ 359 7- Jul H&FW Eradication of polio
Y G Mahajan BJP M

2727
The Education For All (EFA) monitoring report, released by UNESCO on
November 6, 2003, cautioned that India is “at risk of not achieving the
millennium development goal of Universalisation of education by 2015.”
The Tenth Five Year Plan promises that all children will complete eighth
years of schooling by 2010.
5
EDUCATION
Constitution of India Free compulsory education for all
children up to 14 years by 1960
National Policy For Education, All children having attained 11 years age
(1986) by 1990 will complete five years of
schooling.
By 1995 all children upto 14 years will
be provided free and compulsory
education.
National Policy for Education Universal primary education by 1995,
(modified in 1992) and the which was subsequently shifted to 2000
Programme of Action
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, 2001-02 All children in school, Education
Guarantee Centre, Alternate School, Back
to School Camp by 2003.
Five years of primary schooling for all
children by 2007.
Eight years of schooling and universal
retention by 2010
10th Five-Year Plan (2002-07) All children in school by 2003
All children to complete five years of
schooling by 2007
Time and again the government has made such promises, but the fact
is, that 3.5 crore children are out of school in India (RSUSQ: 2003). The
UPA government has introduced a cess of 2% on all central taxes to
finance the commitment to universalise access to quality basic education.
This is indeed a welcome move. However, the parameters of “quality
basic education” are not clear, as the government has been criticised
for promoting low-quality parallel stream of education through the Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan. At the same time, by providing non-formal schools
for child labour, the government is inadvertently (or is it advertently?)
legalising child labour in the country. Unless all children are in full-time
school in an equitable system of education, India will continue to have
the largest number of working children in the country. Our constant
shifting of goal posts are proof of our lukewarm commitment to
education (Table 5.1).
According to the finance minister, the levy of 2% cess will generate
anywhere between Rs 4000 and 5000 crore a year, all of which will be
earmarked for education, including the provision of a nutritious midday
meal. Will this additional cess be enough to meet the target of
universalisation? It is interesting to note that the commitment of the
current government to allocate 6% of GDP on education is only a
reiteration of a recommendation that was made in 1966 as per the
requirements at that time.
Of all issues concerning children, education is the one that draws
maximum attention in Parliament. Fifty-four percent of questions on
child-related issues were on education in the Budget Session of the
Parliament. Questions were raised on issues pertaining to the Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan, the 2% education cess, foreign investment and external
aid in education; midday meal scheme and other related issues. The
concern shown by the parliamentarians on the issue of education in
the Budget Session was appreciable.
A number of questions were raised on the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs).

28
However, very few of these questions were directly related to children—
they were mostly on the administrative affairs of the KVs.
Only two questions were raised on the integration of the disabled
children in the mainstream system of education.
5.1 POLICY/ STATUS
(a) Provisions for Free Schooling
S M Laljan Basha (TDP) and N P Durga (TDP) asked:
(a) whether compulsory and free schooling of children between the
age of six to fourteen years has been initiated;
(b) if so, the progress made so far; and
(c) the measures taken to achieve the goal of universalisation of the
elementary schooling by exploring the resources to make the right
to education a reality?
answered:
(a) and (b) The Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002 has been
enacted which has, inter alia, inserted a new Article 21-A in Part
III (“Fundamental Rights”) of the Constitution. Article 21-A states
that “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all
children of the age of 6 to 14 years in such manner as the State
may, by law, determine”. The follow up legislation envisaged in
the above Article is under consideration of the government.
(c) Plan allocations for Elementary Education have been steadily
increasing over the years. In addition, limited external assistance,
as and when necessary, has been tapped for the universalisation
of elementary education through the District Primary Education
Programme and more recently the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
State governments have also been requested to mobilise resources
from the community, on a voluntary basis, for improvement of
primary education. In the Union Budget presented on 8.7.2004,
an education cess has also been proposed on income tax,
corporation tax, excise and customs duties, and service tax to fulfil
the Government’s commitment to provide and finance universalised
quality basic education.
(b) Standard of Education
[Ref.No: LSSQ108, 13 July 2004]
Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil (INC) and Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) asked:
(a) whether the Government is contemplating to stem the decline in
standards of education at all levels;
(b) if so, whether the majority of management institutions in the
country are offering sub-standard education;
(c) if so, the details in this regard;
(d) the steps being considered to improve the quality of education at
all levels; and
(e) the action being taken against the institutions which do not offer
quality education?
Shri Arjun Singh, the Minister of Human Resource and Development
answered:
(a) to (e) The issues of quality have always been central to educational
policy. It has been the Ministry’s endeavour to ensure continuous
and sustained improvement in the quality of education at all levels.
The NPE provides for a National System of Education, which implies
that up to a given level, all students, irrespective of caste, creed,
location or sex, have access to education of a comparable quality.
It also accords priority for improvement of the standard of
education at all levels.
The concerns regarding quality and equity are continuously
addressed by the Central and State Governments through
appropriate interventions in education at all levels. Such
interventions include infrastructure development, supply of
teaching- learning material, periodic revision of the curricula,
introduction of subjects in new and emerging areas, value
education, teachers’ training and deployment, and reforms in the
examination system.

2929
The Scheme of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was evolved to
pursue Universal Elementary Education of a satisfactory quality in
the mission mode, with emphasis on education for life.
The National Council for Teacher Education, a statutory body, is
responsible for regulation and the proper observance of norms
and standards in teacher education at the elementary and
secondary levels.
In order to fulfill their statutory responsibilities for maintaining
standards, necessary regulations, directions and circulars, etc., in
this regard are issued from time to time by the University Grants
Commission in respect of higher education Institutions and by the
All India Council for Technical Education in respect of Technical
and Management Institutions, besides appropriate interventions by
the Central Government.
The Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of
Management are acknowledged as ‘Centres of Excellence’ the world
over. The Regional Engineering Colleges have been upgraded to
National Institutes of Technology, expanding the avenues for top
quality technical education for more aspirants.
Recent initiatives taken to strengthen the technical education system
include a decision to introduce a credit- based system in the
technical education, conversion of Regional Engineering Colleges
(RECs) into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), the
launching of a fully dedicated technical education channel,
launching of a special programme to improve the quality of
technical education, participation of private bodies, development
of technologies in emerging areas and their transfer to user
agencies through technology development missions, transfer of
techno-economic advances in technical education and appropriate
technologies to rural people through expansion of Community
Polytechnics and improving the productivity of the informal sector
of the economy.
(c) Villages with Middle School
[Ref. No: RSSQ 182, 19 July 2004]
Smt. Vanga Geetha (TDP) and Shri S.M. Laljan Basha (TDP) asked:
(a) the percentage of villages with middle school facility in the country;
and
(b) the action proposed to be taken to increase this facility?
Shri Arjun Singh, the Minister of Human Resource and Development
answered:
a) As per the Sixth All India Educational Survey (AIES) conducted by
the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
with the reference date of 30th September 1993, it was found that
23.32% villages had a middle school in the village. For the assessment
of availability of educational facilities in rural areas, the habitation
has been considered as the smallest and basic unit. In this survey
13.87% habitations had a middle school and 76.15% habitations
had a middle school within a distance of three kilometers.
The Seventh All India School Education is currently being
undertaken by NCERT with the reference date of 30th September
2002, to collect data on various parameters of school education
including villages/rural habitations with a middle school facility. So
far we have received data on habitations with a middle school
facility from 28 States/UTs, which reveals that 18.27% of the
habitations have a middle school and 78.25% habitations have
this facility within a distance of three kilometres. The data on
villages with middle school facility has not been received from the
States/UTs.
(b) The following are some of the steps being taken to increase this
facility:
Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which was launched with
effect from 2001-02 to provide universal elementary education for
all children in the 6-14 age group, the following specific provisions
have been made for increasing middle school facility:
One upper primary school/section for every two primary
schools on the requirement, based on the number of students
completing primary education.
One teacher for every class in middle schools.
A classroom for every middle grade/class and a room for the
headmaster in the middle school/section.

30
One time grant of Rs.50,000/- per middle school for
procurement of teaching learning equipment on the
recommendation of school committee.
Computer education specially at the middle level are supported
with a grant up to Rs.15 lakhs per district under SSA.
The Plan allocations for Elementary Education have been steadily
increasing over the years to meet the requirement for attempting
the Universalisation of Elementary Education.
(d) Central Advisory Board of Education
[Ref.No: LSUSQ 2777, 17 August 2004]
Shri Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi (INC) asked:
(a) whether any meeting of recently reconstituted CABE has since been
convened;
(b) if so, the main recommendations made therein; and
(c) the follow-up action taken thereon?
Shri MA A Fatmi, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource
(a) to (c): The first meeting of the reconstituted Board was held on 10-
11 August 2004. It has been decided to constitute seven CABE
Committees to look into the following critical issues which have
emerged from the deliberations in the meeting:-
(i) Free and Compulsory Education Bill and other issues connected
with elementary education.
(ii) Girls Education and the Common School System.
(iii) Universalisation of Secondary Education.
(iv) Autonomy of Higher Education Institutions.
(v) Integration of Culture Education in the School Curriculum.
(vi) Regulatory Mechanism for the Text Books and parallel
textbooks taught in school outside the Government System.
(vii) Financing of Higher and Technical Education.
5.2 SPECIAL GROUPS
(a) New Education Policy for Handicapped Children
[Ref.No. LSSQ 419, 24 August]
Shri Maha Deo Rao Shiwankar (BJP) and Shailendra Kumar (SP) asked:
(a) whether the Government has formulated a new education policy
for the handicapped children;
(c) the total number of handicapped children in various States of the
country listed by the Government, State-wise;
(d) the States in which new schools / Institutes for handicapped would
be opened; and
(e) the total amount likely to be spent on the said scheme, State-
wise?
answered:
(a) to (e) The National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986, as modified in
1992, envisages integration of the physically and mentally
handicapped with the general community as equal partners, to
prepare them for normal growth and to enable them to face life
with courage and confidence. The Policy envisages the following
measures in this regard:-
i) Wherever it is feasible, the education of children with motor
handicaps and other mild handicaps will be common with
that of others.
ii) Special schools with hostels will be provided, as far as possible
at district headquarters, for the severely handicapped children.
iii) Adequate arrangements will be made to give vocational
training to the disabled.
iv) Teachers‘ training programmes will be reoriented, in particular
for teachers of primary classes, to deal with the special
difficulties of the handicapped children; and

3131
v) Voluntary effort for the education of the disabled, will be
encouraged in every possible manner.
2. A centrally sponsored scheme of Integrated Education for Disabled
Children (IEDC) was launched in 1974 by the then Department of
Social Welfare and was later transferred to the then Department
of Education in 1982-83. The scheme provides educational
opportunities for disabled children in common schools to facilitate
their integration and ultimate retention in the general school
system. The scheme is being implemented through the Education
Departments of the State Governments and UT Administrations as
well as through Non- Governmental Organisations. Under the
scheme of IEDC, 100% assistance is being provided under various
components for education of children suffering from mild to
moderate disabilities in common schools. There is no provision
under the scheme to open schools / Institutes, as this scheme is
for integrating children with disabilities only in the existing schools.
The total allocation under the scheme in the 10th Five Year Plan is
Rs.200 crore with a provision of Rs.39 crores for the year 2004-
05. State-wise allocations are not made under the scheme.
3. Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), to achieve Universalisation
of Elementary Education, the education of children with disabilities
has been included as a thrust area, for which upto Rs.1200/- is
provided for each disabled child per annum.
4. The scheme of Polytechnics for Disabled Persons aims to upgrade
50 existing Polytechnics in different locations of the country to
integrate various categories of disabled persons in the mainstream
of Technical & Vocational education. Under the scheme, each
selected polytechnic is required to admit 25 students with
disabilities in their formal courses and train 100 students in the
non-formal vocational trades every year. The 10th Five Year Plan
allocation for the scheme is Rs.40 crores, with a provision of Rs.4
crore during 2004-05.
5. The 58th round survey conducted by National Sample Survey
Organisation during July - December 2002, estimated 49.9 lakhs
disabled children in the age group of 0-18 years in the country.
The State-wise details are not available. A statement indicating
state-wise, the approximate number of disabled children covered
under the scheme of the Integrated Education for Disabled Children
in 2003-04 is given in the Table 5.2. A statement indicating the
state-wise number of children with disabilities identified for
coverage under the scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2004-05
is given in Table: 5.3.
Table: 5.2: State-wise Number of Disabled Children (approximate)
Covered under the Scheme of IEDC – 2003-04
Sl. No Name of the State Number of disabled children
1. Andhra Pradesh 3000
2. Arunachal Pradesh 44
3. Assam 3286
4. Bihar 1500
5. Chhattisgarh 300
6. Goa 42
7. Gujarat 36923
8. Haryana 12233
9. Himachal Pradesh 3896
10. Jharkhand
11. Karnataka 36402
12. Kerala 32000
13. Madhya Pradesh 51065
14. Maharashtra 1352
15. Manipur 2331
16. Meghalaya 105
17. Mizoram 2923
18. Nagaland 1800
19. Orissa 2501
20. Punjab
21. Rajasthan 1445
22. Sikkim
23. Tamil Nadu 2897
24. Tripura 1302
25. Uttar Pradesh 667
26. West Bengal 2863
27. Andaman & Nicobar 980
28. Chandigarh 296
29. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 100
30. Daman & Diu 51
31. Delhi 871
32. Pondicherry 51
Total 203226

32
(b) Setting up of National Monitoring Committee
[Ref. No: LSUSQ 3891, 24 August 2004]
Shri Chandra Bhushan Singh (SP), Manorama Madhwaraj (BJP) & Dhani
Ram Shandil (INC) asked:
(a) whether the Union Government has formed a 35 members National
Monitoring Committee/National Advisory Committee for Minority
Education with a view to improving the quality of and access to
education among minority communities;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the composition of the said
Committee; and
(c) the time by which the Committee is likely to submit its report?
Shri M A A Fatmi Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource
(a): ‘Yes, Sir’. In line with the Programme of Action 1992 based on the
National Policy on Education, 1986 the Government has constituted
the National Monitoring Committee for Minorities Education, with
the Union Minister for Human Resource Development as Chairman.
(b) & (c): The detailed composition of the Committee is annexed. The
Committee is an Advisory Committee. The Committee shall advise
the Government on all matters pertaining to the education of
minorities. In addition, it will review the functioning of various
schemes launched by the Ministry for the purposes of promoting
minority education.
The detailed composition of the “National Monitoring Committee
for Minorities Education.”
(i) Union Minister for Human Resource Development-Chairman
(ii) Minister of State for Education, Government of India-Member
(iii) Education Ministers (School/ Higher/ Technical Education) of
four State Governments viz. Uttar Pradesh; Kerala; Assam and
Jammu & Kashmir with a large minority Population-Member
(iv) Two Members of Lok Sabha from a minority community
(Nominated by the speaker, Lok Sabha) - Members
Table 5.3: State-wise Number of Children with Disabilities
Identified for Coverage under SSA in 2004-05.
Sl. No. Name of the State No. of CWD
1 Andhra Pradesh 134240
2 Assam 17837
3 Bihar 157962
4 Chhattisgarh 42609
5 Goa #
6 Gujarat 53115
7 Haryana 28445
8 Himachal Pradesh 24327
9 Jammu & Kashmir 37763
10 Jharkhand 23071
11 Karnataka 56461
12 Kerala 89147
13 Madhya Pradesh 96948
14 Maharashtra 383416
15 Manipur 1697
16 Meghalaya 8625
17 Mizoram 2842
18 Nagaland 1741
19 Orissa 120749
20 Punjab 26782
21 Rajasthan 31219
22 Sikkim ## 1708
23 Tamil Nadu 71204
24 Tripura 3633
25 Uttar Pradesh 244691
26 Uttaranchal 19332
27 West Bengal 105536
28 Andaman & Nicobar ### 942
29 Chandigarh 1500
30 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 350
31 Daman & Diu 86
32 Delhi ### 30186
33 Lakshadweep ## 20
34 Pondicherry 1452
Total 1819246
Notes: # Plans awaited.
## Number of CWD of Sikkim and Lakshadweep taken from Project Approval
Board approvals from the year 2003-04.
### Plans not yet approved.

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