Budget 2013: Plate expectations: Please sir, can I have some more?

NEW DELHI: Education was given short shrift in the Budget with barely 17% increase in allocation that is likely to leave flagship programmes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and mid-day meal scheme bereft of the necessary impetus.
Allocation for SSA increased by 17%, while Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) — targeted at secondary schools—got a hike of 25.6%.The mid-day meal scheme was provided around 10% additional funds.
In a nod to marginalized groups, allocation for scholarships for SC, ST, OBCs, minorities and girls increased from Rs 4,575 crore to Rs 5,284 crore and the Rashtriya Uchcha Shiksha Abhiyan, a fresh scheme for improvement in higher education, was allotted Rs 400 crore.
Educationists, however, dismissed the increase as insignificant and something that would barely cover for inflation. Pratham founder Madhav Chavan said, “The Budget merely adjusts for inflation and the issue really is how do we get our education plans running.’’
Others sought better monitoring, like Azim Premji Foundation CEO Dileep Ranjekar who said, “There ought to be strong fund management plan, execution, monitoring and review.’’
Meanwhile, central universities — Aligarh Muslim University (Aligarh campus), Banaras Hindu University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati campus and INTACH — got some financial attention with a grant of Rs 100 crore each.
Union Budget 2013
Budget news 2013
Economic Survey