Spending boost for health, education in 12th Plan
NEW DELHI: With the 12th Five Year Plan targeting to step up spending in four sectors - health, education, skill development and infrastructure - support for other schemes will see slower growth given the budgetary constraints. On Thursday, Planning Commission admitted that health, education, skill development and infrastructure, including irrigation, needed special focus during the 12th Five Year Plan (April 2012 to March 2017) given the slow progress during the current plan that ends next March.

However, the plan panel has set steep targets. For instance, the plan is to target 100% adult literacy, universalise secondary education and increase in gross enrollment ratio in higher education to 20% by March 2017. As a proportion of GDP, the spending on health is proposed to be doubled from around 1.3% at present to at least 2-2.5% by the end of the next plan.

Health spend set to double in 12th Plan
NEW DELHI: India's allocation for health is all set to double. The Planning Commission has decided to increase its spending on health to 2.5% of the GDP in the 12th Five Year Plan that starts next year.

This is in accordance with the recommendation made by the High Level Expert Group on universal health coverage that was constituted by the Commission. Syeda Hamid, member of the Planning Commission, said, "Nearly 2.5% of the GDP will be used in health sector during the next plan period. This will be a big jump."

Read more: TOI