Madhya Pradesh Women and Child Development Minister Nirmala Bhuria highlighted the importance of children’s holistic development as the cornerstone for the state’s sustainable progress. Speaking at a workshop on ‘Child Budgeting in Madhya Pradesh,’ she mentioned that the 2026–27 State Budget demonstrates the government’s strong focus on children. This year, there has been a significant 26% increase in the budget allocated to child-related sectors.
Minister Bhuria disclosed that Rs 23,747 crore has been earmarked for health and nutrition schemes, including Poshan 2.0, with 13.7% of the total state expenditure dedicated to education. She emphasized the necessity for improved coordination among various departments, stating that child development cannot be the sole responsibility of one department. The Child Budget Statement now encompasses 19 departments, such as Health, Education, Panchayat and Rural Development, Tribal Affairs, and Social Justice.
Furthermore, Minister Bhuria urged all departments to collaborate with a shared goal to ensure that government initiatives effectively benefit children at the grassroots level. She also instructed officials to devise district-specific plans, considering the diverse needs of children across Madhya Pradesh’s 55 districts.
William Hanlon, Chief of Field Operations for Unicef Madhya Pradesh, commended the state’s completion of five years of Child Budgeting and its transition towards outcome-based budgeting. Stressing the importance of equity, especially for the significant tribal population in Madhya Pradesh, he emphasized the need for gender and geographically balanced budget allocations. Christina Popivanova, Unicef’s Delhi Chief of Social Policy, lauded Madhya Pradesh’s initiative, aligning it with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. She emphasized that achieving a ‘Developed India’ by 2047 hinges on viewing investments in children not just as ‘beneficiaries’ but as contributors to productivity.
