Investing in the well-being and developmental progress of children transcends mere moral obligation; it constitutes an essential prerequisite for any nation with ambitions for sustained prosperity. By channeling resources into children, governments set the stage for a more promising future wherein every child, regardless of their background, is endowed with equitable prospects to thrive. Moreover, investing in the initial stages of human development offers a higher, gradually diminishing return over time. This stems from the fact that early learning fosters subsequent learning and aids in the gradual cultivation of skills as children transition into adulthood. Substantiated evidence attests that each additional dollar invested in high-quality early childhood development programs yields returns ranging from $6 to $17.
Furthermore, this approach bears economic rationality. Data underscores that an extra year of schooling for a child heightens their future earnings by approximately 10 percent. Additionally, a compelling correlation exists between literacy and reduced rates of child marriage among girls. Notably, merely eight percent of literate girls in South and West Asia experience early marriages, as opposed to nearly 25 percent of illiterate girls from the same region.
Recognizing the paramount importance of investing in children, numerous countries have embraced the concept of a national child budget—an allocated financial framework designed to safeguard children's well-being and holistic advancement. Governments affirm their commitment to furnishing quality healthcare, education, social protection, and other pivotal services by earmarking dedicated funds for child-centric initiatives. This practice reinforces the belief that children deserve optimal beginnings and lays the bedrock for an equitable and inclusive society. Additionally, it plays an instrumental role in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Given that children constitute approximately 40 percent of the population and the opportunity to tap into our demographic dividend is rapidly diminishing within the next few years, it is imperative that we allocate a significantly greater portion of resources towards the development of children.
Much like numerous other nations, Bangladesh is committed to prioritizing the well-being of children, as articulated in the present national five-year plan (8FYP) spanning from 2020 to 2025. The government has indeed reported budgets that specifically focus on children's welfare since the fiscal year 2015-16. The children's budget has doubled since its inception in the fiscal year 2019-20; however, the goal of allocating a minimum of 20 percent of the total national budget for children has yet to be achieved. Amid the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has not published child budget reports for the past three consecutive years, and the fiscal year 2023-24 is no exception. A study conducted by Save the Children estimated that approximately 14.9 percent of the budget for fiscal year 2023-24 is designated for child-related activities, based on the latest available coefficients. This estimate encompasses allocations that directly benefit children as well as indirect allocations that support parents, teachers, social service providers, and other stakeholders engaged in child-centric endeavors. Considering that children constitute around 40 percent of the population and our window for capitalizing on our demographic dividend is swiftly closing, it is imperative that we significantly enhance resource allocation for children's development.
Enhanced public expenditure in the social sectors yields substantial benefits for children. Allocations for education have hovered around 1.5-2 percent of our GDP for over a decade, while the government aims to elevate this share to three percent by fiscal year 2024-25. In contrast, Bhutan has consistently allocated over 5.5 percent of its GDP to education. Since 2019, India has allocated approximately three percent of its GDP to education. According to a report by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), regrettably, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Ministry of Education were the two lowest-performing entities in fiscal year 2021-22 in terms of utilizing funds from the Annual Development Programme (ADP), among the 15 ministries or agencies that received the highest allocations.
Alas, allocations within the health sector do not exhibit a promising outlook either. The sector's budgetary share has remained below one percent of the GDP for over a decade, in contrast to India's 2.2 percent investment. Bangladesh's out-of-pocket health expenditure constitutes about 74 percent of total spending – one of the highest rates globally. Historical trends also highlight that we have placed insufficient emphasis on early childhood care, including the provision of balanced nutrition. The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2022 report has indicated a deteriorating trend in severe acute malnutrition (SAM). For fiscal year 2023-24, the health sector accounted for a mere five percent of our national budget. The lesser the investment, the narrower the scope for addressing child health-related concerns.
Similarly, the allocation for social protection falls short. A considerable portion of the Social Safety Net Programmes (SSNP) budget caters to government pension schemes and allowances for freedom fighters. Global evidence indicates that the average global expenditure on social protection for children aged 0-14 years is around 1.1 percent of GDP, whereas for low-income countries, this figure stands at only 0.1 percent. Bangladesh mirrors this trend. Children's allocation in this context is even lower, compounded by limited beneficiary coverage. Socially disadvantaged children, such as street children, children with disabilities, and child laborers, receive minimal attention within the SSNP budget.
Collectively, the budget allocation specifically designated for programs and initiatives aimed at children in Bangladesh falls short of adequately addressing the diverse needs of children across the nation. Despite some progress, the portion of the budget allocated to child-focused initiatives does not fully encompass the scale of their challenges. These programs often lack the framework to reach the most marginalized children from diverse backgrounds. Their concerns are not being sufficiently prioritized within national budgets, amidst competing demands.
To achieve the initial goal of elevating child-focused allocations to 20 percent of the national budget, a substantial amount of approximately Tk 150,000 crore will be required for the fiscal year 2023-24. Addressing these issues necessitates coordinated efforts from government entities that recognize the significance of investing in children. Strengthening children's representation in decision-making processes and emphasizing long-term socioeconomic benefits are also crucial. Government bodies, civil society organizations, and individuals must advocate for children's rights and well-being, ensuring that they receive a fair portion of national budgets. Additionally, a separate national report on child budgets should be established to effectively monitor the overall spending on children.
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