Is there space in the budget for them?

CHENNAI: Stuck with only 3.2 per cent of the GDP allotted for education, approximately 440 million underprivileged kids study in government schools. Without an inclusive budget, education for them seems remote, says Dr Jayakumar Christian, National Director, World Vision India.Vijaylaxmi Arora, Policy Director at CRY stressed the need for financial planning to flesh out the RTE Act, with better schools and teachers. Prof Shanmugavelayudam, of NGO TN Forces, complained that it is unfair that the Centre spends `11,000 per child annually as opposed to `1,100 annually by the states.”Bulu Sareen, Head - Child Health Now said, “Procurement of essential drugs and infrastructure for institutional deliveries need some focus." Unorganised SectorAt least three percent needs to be allotted here. Geetha Ramakrisanan from  National Campaign for the Unorganised Sectors Workers, opines, "The BPL tag should not arise when it comes to pension and ESI, for unorganised workers."  HIVThe government should start looking beyond the ART (Anti-Retroviral Treatment) for the HIV-infected was the collective sentiment expressed by the community. "We expect fund allocation and for better infrastructure to address this issue," shares Padmavathy, President of TamilNadu Positive Women’s network. As the longevity increases among the HIV-affected, teenagers, counsellors and nutrition are the need of the hour in schools, says Daisy David, HIV Activist.Disability SectorThe three per cent reservation for the disabled as per the Disability Act should be implemented, ask the TN Handicapped Federation charitable Trust.  “There are advanced assistive devices, which can make life more comfortable,” said Deepak from the Trust. Another demand from them  is to constitute a chair for the study and research on disability as a discipline at universities.