-Down to Earth Schemes that provide integrated benefits to women and children did not get additional funds this year Food and nutrition were highlighted in this year’s budget presented in the parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. However, children might not get the benefit of good food.  Schemes for children such as Poshan 2.0, which provide integrated benefits to women and children, did not get any additional funds this year. In 2022-23, an estimated budget...

-The Free Press Journal Today’s budget speech of the Finance Minister was more about Government’s intentions, intentions for a long term horizon like 25 years and little on this years’ specific plans. There is an oft-spoken phrase – where there is a will there's a way. If the policies of a Government is its Will then the Budget is meant to give the Way by providing the means with funds. Today’s budget...

-TheWire.in With revenues of the government expanding significantly, this was an opportunity to present a more expansive budget. Unfortunately, the budget made a clear choice. Unlike last year, this year expectations from Budget 2022-23 with respect to the social sector – particularly with respect to schemes for nutrition – were low. While India relied heavily during the peak of the pandemic last year on its welfare architecture, trends on the release of funds...

--Press release by the National Coalition on the Education Emergency (NCEE) dated January 29, 2022 An education emergency of unprecedented proportions has severely impacted hundreds of millions of children in India. Prolonged school closures have caused learning deprivation, student dropout, increased child labour, malnutrition, and early marriages that are compromising the future of our country. It is time to open schools and massively increase funding of public education with a clear focus...

-ThePrint.in Study titled 'India Needs To Learn — A Case for Keeping Schools Open' conducted by Boston Consulting Group and Teach For India, with recommendations from over 35 organisations. New Delhi: Over 90 per cent of teachers in India have faced serious challenges with assessing student learning and over 80 per cent teachers expressed impossibility of maintaining an emotional connect with children during online classes, a study has found. The study, titled “India...