Context:

=> The Madhya Pradesh state government for the first time presented a ‘child budget’ as part of its annual financial plan.

• The government has allocated Rs 57,803 crore for 220 schemes which will be implemented under 17 departments, including education, targeted at children aged below the age of 18.

Overview:

=> The Madhya Pradesh government presented its budget for the financial year 2022-23.

=> The Budget was presented by Finance Minister Jagdish Devda.

=> Under the Rs 2.79 lakh crore budget, no new tax was proposed for 2022-23.

=> Substantial allocations have been made for infrastructure at Rs 42,128 crore, Rs 32,843 crore for education, and for health at Rs 19,405 crore in the next fiscal.

=> A total appropriation of Rs 2,79,237 crore has been proposed in the budget of 2022-23 which is around Rs 37,500 crore more than the previous budget.

=> Under this budget Rs 42,128 crore has been allocated for the infrastructure sector covering roads, power, and water.

=> Rs 41,038 crore has been allocated for rural and urban development.

=> Rs 20,027 crore for the agriculture sector, Rs 32,843 crore for education, and Rs 19,405 crore for health has been allocated.

=> To the Rural Development Department, an amount of Rs 21,389 crore has been allocated.

=> Rs 6,536 crore has been earmarked for the Panchayat Department.

=> Rs 142 crore has been allocated to make arrangements of providing on-the-spot treatment to injured or ailing cattle using veterinary vehicles.

About Child Budget:

This year’s Budget highlight was that of a separate Child Budget under which provision of Rs 57,803 crore has been allocated for their nutrition, health, and education. This fund has been allocated to all departments that deal with children under the age of 18. The departments include women and child, school education, sports, tribal welfare. The Child Budget will ensure that the children of the state have a bright future. The Child Budget will enable the government to deal with schemes that will be child-oriented including infant mortality and malnutrition.