She also boasted that the overall Budget for health had been increased substantially and pointed to details in Annexure I of the Budget speech. Zero amountLogically, when the Finance Minister says that the Budget for ‘Health and Wellbeing’ is being expanded significantly, one would expect to see these details in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Budget. Page 155 of the 350 page ‘Notes on Demands for Grants’ lists the Health Ministry’s Budget details for the year 2021-22. One then ponders, wondering whether for some reason, COVID-related Budget provisions have been made under another expenditure item in the Ministry’s Budget this year. Instead, the Finance Minister resorted to headline and narrative management using half-truths and misleading claims.

Source: The Hindu May 11, 2021 18:32 UTC