Minister for Women and Child Development Sushri Nirmala Bhuria stated that the holistic development of children in Madhya Pradesh will serve as the cornerstone of the state’s sustainable and inclusive growth. She was addressing the training workshop on “Child Budgeting in Madhya Pradesh,” jointly organized by the Department of Women and Child Development and UNICEF at Courtyard by Marriott Bhopal on Wednesday.
Budget 2026–27: Record Allocation for Children
Sushri Bhuria said that the State Budget 2026–27 reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to the comprehensive development of children. She noted that allocations for children-related sectors have increased by a historic 26 percent this year. A provision of ₹23,747 crore has been made for health and nutrition, including major initiatives such as Poshan 2.0. In addition, 13.7 percent of the state’s total expenditure has been earmarked for education.
Need for Convergence Among 19 Departments
Minister Sushri Bhuria emphasized that child development is not solely the responsibility of the Women and Child Development Department. She stated that 19 departments are now included in the Child Budget Statement. Departments such as Health, Education, Panchayat and Rural Development, Tribal Affairs, and Social Justice must work together toward common goals. She said that only through stronger interdepartmental coordination will the actual benefits of budget allocations be visible on the ground.
Focus on District-Specific Needs
Referring to the diversity across Madhya Pradesh’s 55 districts, Sushri Bhuria said that children’s needs vary from district to district. She directed officials to understand local requirements and prepare action plans accordingly.
“Three Crore Children Are Our Greatest Responsibility”: Commissioner Ms. Nidhi Nivedita
Commissioner, Women and Child Development, Sushri Nidhi Nivedita said that nearly 40 percent of the state’s population comprises about three crore children. She emphasized the need to make child budget reporting more scientific and transparent. Departments, must move beyond figures and focus on evidence to assess how effectively their schemes are reaching children.
Five Years of Success and Emphasis on Equity: Shri William Hanlon Jr.
UNICEF Madhya Pradesh Chief Field Officer Shri William Hanlon stated that Madhya Pradesh has successfully completed five years of child budgeting and is moving beyond expenditure reporting toward results-based budgeting. Given the state’s large tribal population, he stressed that budget allocations should ensure equity across gender and geographical regions.
Strategic Investment for Viksit Bharat @2047: Ms. Kristina Popivanova
UNICEF Social Policy Chief (Delhi) Ms. Kristina Popivanova described Madhya Pradesh’s initiative as being aligned with the United Nations. She said that the goal of “Viksit Bharat @2047” can be achieved only when investments in children are viewed not merely from a beneficiary perspective but as investments in productivity and human capital.
Rs 75,587 Crore Allocated Under Child Budget for FY 2026–27
Joint Director of the Department of Women and Child Development, Shri Abhitabh Awasthi informed that a provision of Rs 75 Thousand 587 crore has been made under the Child Budget for financial year 2026–27. This accounts for 19.4 percent of the State Budget and 4.1 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).He noted that since the launch of the child budgeting initiative in 2022, Madhya Pradesh is now entering its fifth year of implementation. The number of participating departments has increased from 17 to 19, reflecting the state’s “Whole of Government Approach.”
Technical Sessions
The technical sessions of the workshop were conducted by UNICEF Social Policy Specialist Ms. Pooja Singh. Representatives from all 19 participating departments shared their experiences related to budget planning and implementation.
