Events of ADRI (Patna - Ranchi)
Government of Bihar Launches SOP for Child Budgeting
UNICEF Bihar and Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) partner with Department of Finance to strengthen public finance for children in Bihar
Patna, November 14 : On the occasion of Children’s Day, the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, Shri Sushil Kumar Modi, released the Standard Operating Procedure for Child Budgeting in Bihar. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)’s launch was organised by the Department of Finance, Government of Bihar, in collaboration with UNICEF Bihar and the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI). UNICEF Bihar and ADRI had provided technical support in developing the SOP.
While presiding over the session, Shri Modi expressed that since half of Bihar’s population is under the age of 18 years, it is critical that we invest adequately in our children. He said that the child budget document is not independent of the state budget; it is instead an analysis of state budget allocations that improve the well-being of children. He highlighted three points related to child survival, namely how to reduce the infant mortality rate (IMR), decrease malnutrition, and provide safe drinking water and improve hygiene.
In terms of child development and protection, Shri Modi emphasised that, for their holistic development, each child has the right to be protected from child sexual abuse, violence, and neglect. He placed special priority on ensuring equitable development for girls. Shri Modi mentioned that between 2013-14 and 2017-18, the Government of Bihar had allocated a cumulative amount of Rs. 80,827.85 crore towards child development and spent Rs. 67,101.02 crore during the same period. The total allocation for children during this period has increased at an annual rate of 18.1 percent, while the expenditure has grown at a rate of 26.1 percent.
Principal Secretary, Department of Finance, Dr. S. Siddharth shared along with Assam and Kerala, Bihar is one of only three Indian states that publishes a child budget document. He explained how the scope of child budgeting in Bihar has been expanded from eight departments to sixteen. The process of creating this SOP included consultations with various experts and functionaries, and the Department of Finance’s future plans include the publication of a Child Outcome Budget to link the budgetary inputs with outcomes of the expenditure on child development.
Shri Asadur Rahman, Chief, UNICEF Bihar Field Office, congratulated the Government of Bihar on the release of the SOP. He expressed that the world is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) this year, which guarantees the right of every child to survival, education and development, protection, and participation. India is a signatory to the UNCRC and the Government of Bihar’s step to strengthen its child budgeting processes is a testament to its commitment to uphold child rights. He stressed the economic importance of investing in early childhood care and education, on which every rupee invested leads to a societal gain of 17 rupees.
Artwork for the document was provided by a group of students of Kilkari-Bihar Bal Bhawan and the Bihar Youth for Child Rights forum, who had participated in a design and consultation workshop on child rights and child budgeting facilitated by UNICEF Bihar and ADRI in October 2019.
On the occasion Shri Rahul Singh, Secretary, Department of Finance, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and officials from other departments were also present. Dr. Barna Ganguli, Assistant Professor, CEPPF compared the programme.
While welcoming the guests, Prof. Prabhat P. Ghosh, Director, Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) stated that child development has traditionally been viewed as a “welfare activity,” with the perception that its economic returns are rather limited. However, with this SOP, the Government of Bihar has taken a highly welcome step to break the vicious circle of poverty and low human development.
Dr. Urvashi Kaushik, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Bihar, proposed the vote of thanks and concluded that this strengthened child budget document is representative of the Government of Bihar’s commitment to investing in its human capital through child development.