Expenditure on social services rising

The share of the central government's expenditure on social services, including rural development, in total expenditure (plan and non-plan) has increased from 11.23 per cent in 2002-03 to 19.44 per cent in 2008-09, according to the Economic Survey.

Expenditure on education as a proportion of total expenditure has increased from 9.5 per cent in 2003-04 to 10.8 per cent in 2008-09. However, the Survey has noted leakages in the schemes in that the quasi-public goods and services supplied by the state do not reach the targeted groups in full.

The government has approved the constitution of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The initial UID database would be created using the electoral rolls database of the Election Commission of India. While some innovative measures have been initiated in NREGS to bring in more transparency and plug leakages - the UID number would help greatly in proper targeting and ensuring services reaching the intended beneficiaries of the government programmes and hence serve as the basis of efficient delivery of services, the Survey notes.

Based on a unique ID number and associated information, all residents should be entitled to a smart card containing specified unchangeable data. Entitlements would then need to be based upon the data contained in the smart card and services/subsidies/entitlements received would also be recorded against this card.