By IANS,
New Delhi : Government support for social programmes has continued to expand in various forms despite most social sector subjects falling within the purview of the states, the Economic Survey said Thursday. Expenditure on social services as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) has increased from 5.57 percent in 2006-7 to 7.34 percent in 2010-11.
The survey, presented in parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, said India had faced the global economic crisis without much impact on the social sector.
“Expenditure on social services as a proportion of total expenditure, increased from 21.6 percent in 2006-7 to 24.1 percent in 2009-10, and further to 25 percent in 2011-12 (budget estimates),” the survey said.
“As a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP), its share increased from 5.57 percent in 2006-7 to 6.76 percent, 6.91 percent and 7.34 percent in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively, helping India face the global economic crisis without much adverse impact on the social sector,” it added.
However, it said the expenditure on social services was expected to be 6.74 percent of GDP in 2011-12, as per the budget estimates.
The survey said expenditure on education as a proportion of GDP has increased from 2.72 percent in 2006-7 to 3.11 percent in 2011-12 (budget estimates), while on health it has increased from 1.25 percent in 2006-7 to 1.30 percent in 2011-12 (BE).
It said the central government expenditure on social services and rural development (plan and non-plan) has consistently gone up over the years and had increased from 13.38 percent in 2006-7 to 18.47 percent in 2011-12.
“Central support for social programmes has continued to expand in various forms, although most social sector subjects fall within the purview of the states,” it said.
The survey said social services include education, sports, art and culture, medical and public health, family welfare, water supply and sanitation, housing, urban development, welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes, labour welfare, social security, nutrition and relief for natural calamities.