Karnali province govt’s investment in child welfare criticized as insufficient

SURKHET: A recent study by the Common Campaign for Child Rights (CCCR) reveals that the Karnali provincial government’s investment in child welfare is minimal.

According to the study, the province has allocated only 2% of its total budget to the children’s sector. This analysis covers the provincial budget from the fiscal year 2021/22 to 2023/24.

In fiscal year 2021/22, the province allocated Rs 700.6 million, or 1.84% of its total budget of Rs 38.47 billion, to the children’s sector.

The allocation decreased slightly in fiscal year 2022/23, with Rs 556.5 million, or 1.89% of a total budget of Rs 32.62 billion, dedicated to child welfare.

CCCR Programme Coordinator Tek Raj Acharya pointed out that in the fiscal year 2023/24, only 1.89% of the province’s total budget of Rs 33.38 billion was allocated to the children’s sector.

Over the past three fiscal years, the provincial government has conducted 1,655 activities related to child rights, with 508 activities in 2021/22, 574 in 2022/23, and 573 in 2023/24.

Acharya noted that while four sectors of child rights have been incorporated into the budget, the overall investment remains insufficient.

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