Social sector has pitched for an increase in spending on health, education and rural India with focus on better delivery and a tax holiday for skills development programmes.
At a pre-budget consultation with minister for state for finance Anurag Thakur on Monday, representatives from health, education and rural development sectors stressed on improving efficiency in delivery of health services, improving learning outcomes at primary level while making secondary and higher level education affordable and introducing reforms related to pension and social protections for the weaker sections.
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“A dedicated National Fund for protection of children, eradication of child labour, collecting gender disaggregated data by a National mission, policy to encourage healthy food habits via measures like higher taxes on sin products,” were among the suggestions made by representatives, the finance ministry said in a statement. They also demanded tax holiday and a more effective monitoring of funds at Centre-State level for attracting more talent to aspirational districts, under skill development programs.
Source: Economic Times
