'Delhi's education expenditure 10% higher than that of most states'

NEW DELHI: Economic analysts have noted that the Delhi government's budgetary allocation for the education sector is nearly 10 per cent higher than the average budgetary allocation for education across all states.

The state-wide average of expenditure for education is nearly 16 per cent; whereas the Delhi government, in its 2018-19 Budget, has allocated 26.30 per cent for education.

This is higher than the average expenditure allocated to education by 18 other states (using 2017-18 budget estimate), noted policy experts.

They further stated that Delhi has allocated 12.70 per cent of its Budget on health – higher than the average expenditure of 18 other states.

Experts noted that the boost to education and health are commendable. "The boost in state education will allow the government to take various innovative steps in the education which the other states cannot take," noted an expert, further explaining that being the Capital, Delhi witnesses sees a vast number of patients from neighbouring states in its government hospitals and the boost will help improve infrastructure.

The departments of Urban Development, Education, Social Welfare, Medical and Public Health, and Development (includes irrigation and environment) account for 83.10 per cent of the total budgeted expenditure in 2018-19.

The Department of Education noted the highest increase in allocation (46.20 per cent).

This is followed by the Department of Urban Development (24.20 per cent) and Medical and Public Health (24.10 per cent). The allocation to the Department of Social Welfare decreased by 11.50 per cent.

Presenting the budget last Thursday, Delhi's Finance Minister Manish Sisodia said the total budget was of Rs 53,000 crore, adding that the budget in 2014-15 was Rs 30,940 crore and Rs 26,402 crore in 2011-12.

This year, Sisodia also tabled the status report of the Outcome Budget 2017-2018, the second time after it was started. The Aam Aadmi Party-led government scored 73 percent on its report card for itself, in the form of the status report of the Outcome Budget 2017-2018 that was presented in the Delhi Assembly last Wednesday.