New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS): The allocation of the women and child development ministry has been slashed by 44 percent in the budget for 2015-16 presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Lok Sabha on Saturday.

While the allocation for the ministry in 2014-15 was Rs.18,588 crore, it was reduced to Rs.10,382 crore for this financial year.

Jaitley promised to provide additional funds of Rs,1,500 crore to the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Rs.500 crore to Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in case of more revenue collection due to tax buoyancy.

"I hope to garner some additional resources during the year from tax buoyancy. If I am successful, then over and above the budgetary allocation, I will endeavour to enhance allocations to ICDS by Rs.1,500 crore, ICPS by Rs.500 crore," Jaitley said in his budget speech.

The allocation for ICDS has been increased from Rs.41.61 crore to Rs.90 crore, according to budget documents.

The budget allocation for National Commission for Women has been reduced from Rs.27.35 crore to Rs.23.15 crore.