Question : SPENDING ON SOCIAL SECTOR

(a) the percentage of GDP on social sector expenditure during the period 1990-91 and 2000-2001, separately;

(b) a comparative report of the same with the East Asian countries for the above period;

(c) whether the public spending on social sector has declined;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether our social sector expenditure is much low compared to the ratios recommended by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP);

(f) if so, the reasons therefor; and

(g)the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI YASHWANT SINHA)


(a) to (g): A statement is laid on the table of the house.




Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 188 for reply on Friday, the 15th March,2002 raised by Dr. Ram Chandra Dome and Shri Swadesh Chakraborty regarding Spending on Social Sector.


(a) The Central government expenditure (Plan and Non-Plan) on education, health, family welfare, nutrition , water supply, sanitation, rural development, housing, social welfare etc. increased from Rs. 8058 crore in 1990-91 to Rs. 34,524 crore (RE) in 2000-01. As a percentage of Gross Domestic Product at market prices it increased from 1.4 per cent in 1990-91 to 1.7 per cent in 2000-01 (RE)

(b) : As per the available data from the latest Human Development Report 2001, the share of public expenditure on education and health for some of the East Asian countries are:

Public expenditure on Public expenditure on	education (as% of GNP) health (as % of GDP)
1985-87 1995-97 1990 1998
1 India 3.2 3.2 0.9 -
2 Singapore 3.9 3.0 1.0 1.2
3 Hong Kong 2.5 2.9 1.6 -
4 Malaysia 6.9 4.9 1.5 1.4
5 Thailand 3.4 4.8 1.0 1.9
6 Korea Rep. Of 3.8 3.7 + 2.1 2.3
7 Indonesia 0.9 1.4 ++ 0.6 0.7

+ Data are not strictly comparable to those for earlier years	as a result of methodological changes in surveys.

	Data refer to a year or period other than that specified.	Data refer to the ministry of education only.
++	Data refer to the Central govt.only