'Govt doubles spend on social services in last 6 fiscals'

The central government's spending on social services as a percentage of the total expenditure has almost doubled during the past six fiscals, the Economic Survey said on Thursday.

The central government spent a budget estimate of 19.46 per cent of its total expenditure (both plan and non-plan) in 2009-10 on social services, including rural development, against 10.46 per cent in 2003-04, the Survey tabled in Parliament said on Thursday.

"Central government expenditure on social services and rural development has gone up consistently over the years," it added.

Among major sectors where expenditure has increased are education, sports and youth affairs (to 4.37 per cent from 2.32 per cent), health and family welfare (1.99 per cent against 1.53 per cent), water supply and housing (1.99 per cent against 1.67 per cent) and North-Eastern Areas (1.82 per cent from nil), it added.

Similarly, the expenditure on rural development has also risen substantially to 4.30 per cent in 2009-10 (BE), from 2.59 per cent in 2003-04, the Survey said.

The share of social services has jumped to a budget estimate of 23.8 per cent in 2009-10, from 19.9 per cent in 2004-05, for the central and state governments combined. Most social sector subjects in India fall under the purview of state governments, although programme-specific funding is available through centrally sponsored schemes also.