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The Centre, set up in December 2002, is a programme of National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS), Pune. It analyses Union Budgets and public policies from the perspective of poor and marginalised people. CBGA is an attempt to promote transparent, accountable and participatory governance, and a people-centred perspective in preparation and implementation of budgets.
CBGA responds to the Union Budget, throwing light on the priorities and policies driving the budgetary allocations and discussing their implications for the poor and marginalised sections; tracks policy pronouncements of the Union Government through its newsletter; conducts research studies on critical issues affecting the poor and underprivileged; and builds capacities of grassroots organisations towards seeking accountability and transparency from the government.
Why are Budgets Important?
In most countries, Budget is central to governance. It is generally considered the most vital instrument at the disposal of the State to deliver a wide range of responsibilities. Government Budgets affect almost every sector of the economy and every section of the population. The policy priorities driving the Budget and implementation of the Budget proposals are therefore of direct relevance to the entire population. In a developing country like India, with a multiplicity of socio-economic problems and many stakeholders in the democratic processes, a participatory, transparent and accountable Budget making process is of great significance.
Mission of CBGA
To develop into a global centre of excellence, focusing on budget and governance studies from the perspective of the marginalized, and be proactive in the policy making process by dissemination of knowledge, providing a platform for the society at large to seek equity, transparency and accountability in the democratic process.
The key objectives of the Centre are:
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To assess the government’s pro-people rhetoric and actual performance;
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To facilitate public discourse on budget and governance issues, encourage citizens’ participation and advance the rights of the most underprivileged;
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To initiate public argument to influence government policies for transparent, accountable and pro-people governance;
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To advocate for pro-people, pro-poor and pro-marginalised perspective in budget allocations;
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To demystify the budget and to make the budget and budget-related documents transparent, user-friendly and readable;
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To build the capacity of social action groups in budget analysis and use of budgetary information.
Since its inception, CBGA has taken a series of initiatives – the first being a Response to Union Budget 2003-04 in March 2003. This report was brought out within 48 hours of the Budget presentation and was titled – ‘The Marginalised Matters’. Our other periodic publication is ‘Budget Track’: our newsletter. This is a tri-annual publication.
Budget Analysis
CBGA has been tracking the Union Budget and its implications from a pro-poor and marginalised perspective for the last two and a half years. CBGA has responded to the Union Budgets starting from 2003-04 to 2005-06 within 48 hours of the Budget presentation in the Parliament. The detailed responses of CBGA to the respective Budgets are titled as follows:
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Response to Union Budget 2003 - 04: Maginalised Matters
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Response to Interim Union Budget (Interim) 2004 –05: Marginalised Matters Again
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Response to Union Budget 2004 - 05: New Deal or the Beaten Track?
- Response to Union Budget 2005 - 06: State Intervention in Favour of the Poor: Decisive or Disappointing?
These four reports have been circulated widely to Civil Society Organisations, Academia, Media, Parliamentarians and Government officials. The responses have tracked Union Budgets under the Social Sector heads covering - Agriculture, Health, Education, Rural Development, Dalits, Tribals, Women and Children. Apart from these, the reports have also addressed some of the very important fiscal implications of the Budgets affecting the common man’s day-to-day life.
Major Activities of CBGA:
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In depth research and analysis provide solid ground to CBGA. Study of public policies, priorities driving budgets, trend analysis of budgetary allocations and expenditures and socio-economic indicators is the focus of our research.
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The focus areas have been Agriculture, Rural Development, Poverty Alleviation, Health, Education, and the Marginalized Sections (dalits, adivasis, women, children, etc).
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CBGA responds to the Union Budget, within 48 hours of its presentation in the Parliament. A rigorous analysis of budgetary allocations and proposals is carried out.
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The newsletter Budget Track (published thrice a year), articulates views on the relevant developments and discourse on public policies and economic issues in the country from the perspective of poor and ordinary citizens.
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One of the objectives of CBGA is to make budgets comprehensible to people. Thus while in depth research is carried out, the final analysis is collated in such a manner and using such language, as will be easily understood by a common person.
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Spreading awareness and economic literacy is another major activity. In order to facilitate this, CBGA undertakes workshops and capacity building exercises with its partners in different regions of the country.
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CBGA aims at spreading the use of budgets as advocacy tools, which can enhance the on-going work of social movements and people’s organisations. It undertakes three types of capacity building exercises - orientation regarding budget analysis, training in use of budget analysis data and information and finally training in budget analysis itself.
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CBGA also collaborates with national and international budget groups on issues of budget transparency and accountability.
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Engaging with policy makers, legislators and advisors to bring about a change for advancing the rights of the underprivileged sections of society is an important and ongoing activity of CBGA.
For more details login to CBGA website:
WWW.CBGAINDIA.ORG
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