National Human Development Initiative

The finance minister in his budget speech stated that "high priority is being accorded to problem of the human resource development in the Ninth Plan". One of the important components of the 'National Human Development Initiative' announced in the Union Budget is education. Education is also recognised as an important item of 'basic human development needs' and is one of the items of the prime minister's special action plan. Do the programmes and financial resource allocations proposed in the Union Budget, and the Ninth Plan match these high sentiments expressed in favour of education? Answers to this question is attempted here examining the Draft Ninth Five-Year Plan 1997-2002, the Economic Survey 1998-99, and the Budget 1999-2000.