FM: Present Government to make an extensive social welfare system which will focus primarily on better education system and effective healthcare especially for the children, women and senior citizens of the country;

Holds his Third Pre-Budget Consultative Meeting for the Union Budget 2017-18 with the representatives of different Social Sector Groups in Delhi

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that one of the major priorities of the present Government is to make an extensive social welfare system which will focus primarily on better education system and effective healthcare especially for the children, women and senior citizens of the country. He said that as the allocation of resources to the Social Sector by the Government is increasing with time, therefore, the need of the hour is to bring substantial changes in Social sector through better policies and their timely implementation. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was speaking during his Third Pre -Budget Consultative Meeting for the Union Budget 2017-18 with the representatives of different Social Sector Groups here.

The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further said that the inclusive growth is high on the priority of the present Government and the Government will take adequate measures to ensure social security for all especially for the vulnerable section of society including the children, women and senior citizens of the country.

Along with the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, the Pre-Budget Consultative Meeting with the representatives of Social Sector Groups was also attended among others by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary, Shri Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, DEA, Dr Hasmukh Adhia, Revenue Secretary, Ms Anjuli Chib Duggal, Secretary, Financial Services, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA), Shri Anil Swarup, Secretary, Deptt. of School Education & Literacy, Ms. M. Sathiyavathy, Secretary, M/o Labour and Employment, Ms.LeenaNair, Secretary, Women & Child Development, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, Deptt of Health Research and Shri K.B Aggarwal, Addl. Secretary, Deptt of Health and Family Welfare ,

The representatives of various Social Sector Union Groups who attended the meeting included among others Shri Amitabh Behar, National Foundation of India, Ms Dipa Sinha, Right to Food Campaign, Shri Manish Sabharwal, TeamLease, Shri Subhas Singh, National Confederation of Dalit Organization, Shri Ambarish Rai, Right to Education Forum, Shri Ajay Jha, Public Advocacy Initiatives for Rights and Values in India (PAIRVI), Shri Thomas Chandy, Save the Children, Shri Pradeep . S . Mehta, CUTS, Ms. Yamini Aiyar, Centre for Policy Research, Ms. Rukmini Banerjee, Pratham, Shri Mathew Cherian,Helpage, Ms. Nandini Verma, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Ms. Bhavana Mukhopadhyay, Voluntary Health Association of India, Shri V. K. Madhavan, Wateraid, Shri Paul Divakar, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, Shri Mithun Raj, Mines Minerals and people, Ms. Sonali Khan, Breakthrough, Ms. Neha Buch, Pravah, Shri Sandeep Chachra, Actionaid, Shri Subrat Das, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability and Ms Bulu Sareen, World Vision India.

Most of the Social Sector representatives gave different suggestions to the Finance Minister for the forthcoming Union Budget 2017-18. Major suggestions include that in the next Budget, allocation to social sector schemes must be increased and a mechanism be established to monitor proper implementation of all such schemes. It was suggested to monitor to ensure that the schools have access to safe drinking water & sanitation. Other suggestions include more focus in the Budget on healthcare for the workers especially those working in mining sector etc. It was also suggested that vacancies of Doctors, nurses and teachers must be filled so that these public services remain unaffected. There is strong need to strengthen DIETS and quality of primary and secondary education in the country. Various suggestions came about increasing allocation on education and healthcare sectors in the upcoming General Budget 2017-18. It was also suggested that all the tobacco products should be highly taxed primarily because of health concerns.

Social welfare system focus: enhanced education and healthcare provisions to strengthen services for children, women and seniors. The Government proposes an extensive social welfare system prioritising improved education and strengthened healthcare for children, women and senior citizens, with rising resource allocations prompting calls for policy reforms and timely implementation. Stakeholders urged increased budgetary allocations for education and health, filling vacancies of doctors, nurses and teachers, strengthening DIETs and school sanitation, focused healthcare for vulnerable workers, monitoring mechanisms for scheme implementation, and higher taxation on tobacco for public health.