People's Democracy

Still A Far Cry From A Gender-Just Budget: AIDWA

Following is the text of the statement issued by AIDWA vice president, Brinda Karat, on February 28.

THE AIDWA expresses its relief that the budget presented by the finance minister stems, even though only partially, the earlier trends set by the NDA government and continued in the interim budget last year, of cuts in social sector spending that had adversely affected the poor particularly women and children. The importance given in the budget speech for programmes like the mid-day meal schemes, expansion of the ICDS programme, for further linkages with banks of self-help groups are welcome. However, the allocations are so meager that the actual impact on the lives of poor women and children who are to benefit from the schemes will be inadequate. Also some important schemes like those for working women’s hostels, girls hostels, for training and development, for welfare of working women, have seen budgetary cuts. The women’s component of the Sampoorna Rozgar Yojana which was just Rs 1300 crore was not fully utilised and has been cut by Rs 200 crore at a time when women’s need for employment is greatly increasing. Funds for the implementation of the Employment Guarantee Act are also inadequate. The AIDWA urges the finance minister to increase allocations to these sectors.

The exercise in presentation of gender disaggregated data is also a welcome first step but does not constitute gender sensitive budgeting.  The finance minister did not take the next logical step of addressing the deep discrimination suffered by women as revealed by the gender disaggregated data, particularly poor women in the allocation of fund for women specific schemes. Shockingly, according to the disaggregated gender data, in this budget only 8 per cent of the total amount of budgetary support is for women’s schemes or for the women’s component in general schemes. Of the Rs 25,000 crore of additional funds only one sixth will be for women. It is true that there are welcome increased allocations for health and education and for development of rural infrastructure which should also benefit women and which may not form part of the calculation, but it is still a far cry from a gender-just budget. It will be necessary for the government to reformulate many of its programmes and schemes, to increase funds and to give a much bigger share of the funds to enable women to take their rightful place in the economy.

The cuts in duties on LPG and kerosene are long awaited measures and it is necessary to pass on the benefits to consumers who have had to bear the burden of increased prices. However the increase in the prices of diesel and petrol will lead to all round price hikes which must be withdrawn. The unwarranted tax concessions given to the corporate sector should also be withdrawn. Working women oppose any speculation with pension funds, which would take place if such funds were to be placed at the disposal of the private sector. This proposal should also be withdrawn.