Despite the vulnerable position of children as demonstrated by the Nithari serial killings near the capital city where as many as 17 children were sexually abused and killed, child protection has remained a low priority of the Centre if budgetary allocations are concerned.
Child Protection remains largely neglected, registering a marginal increase from 0.027 percent of the Union Budget in 2001-02 to 0.053 percent of the Union Budget in 2007-08, which is quite disturbing when we take into account the alarming number of cases of various forms of crimes against children.
Despite India being a signatory to several International declarations on child protection and development, it has some of the world’s worst human development indicators relating to children, including child sex ratio, child trafficking, malnutrition, child labour, immunisation, education and infant mortality rate which is even worse than its poor neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh.
New findings
The recent findings brought out by a study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) highlights the staggering number of children experiencing different forms of abuse – physical, sexual and emotional abuse and girl child neglect. 
Over 50% children were found to be subjected to one or the other form of physical abuse, 53.22% children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse and every second child reported facing emotional abuse.
The findings are not surprising when one looks at the minimal allocations and resources for child protection.
A study undertaken by Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA), which has scrutinised the Union Budget from the lens of children, revealed that increase in the Centre’s allocations for the social sector in the decade from 1996-97 and 2006-07 represents a meagre increase of 0.4 percent of the GDP, i.e. from 0.71 percent of GDP in 1996-97 to 1.1 percent of GDP in 2006-07.
Another crucial fact is that the increase has been registered only in case of Revenue Expenditure, while Capital Expenditure has been almost stagnant over the same period, it said. Although there has been a rise in total budgetary provisions earmarked for children as a proportion of total expenditure by the Union Government from 2.11 percent in 2001-02  to 5.08 percent in 2007-08, the same is grossly inadequate taking cognisance of the proportion of children in India (42 percent) and their problems.
Grim picture
Sectoral analysis paints a similar picture in terms of provisions for children in crucial sectors.
Although, total allocations for Child Education in the Union Budget registered a significant increase in 2007-08, the same is mainly on account of the Mid-day Meal Scheme and doubling of allocation for Secondary education.
It is grossly inadequate taking into account provision of free and compulsory education of good quality for children of the age group of 6-14 years proclaimed to be a Fundamental Right, and the investment needed for large numbers of children already enrolled.
Allocations
As a proportion of GDP, allocations for Early Childhood Care and Child Development has increased to 0.88 percent of the Union Budget in 2007-08 from 0.43 percent of the Union Budget in 2001-02, primarily due to a substantial increase in allocations for ICDS since 2005-06.
Budgetary provisions for Child Health as a proportion of total Government expenditure also show a decline from 0.56 per cent in 2006-07 to 0.52 percent 2007-08.