2. Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context? (CSE Mains 2016)GS-III 2016

        Gender budgeting is planning with gender perspective. It specifically dedicated funds for woman advancement. It began in India in 2005. The budget statement had a list of programmers that targeted women welfare. They were categorised into

• Women specific scheme -those with 100% allocation for woman and
• Pro-woman schemes –at least 30% allocation for woman

Since 2005 all budgets have been listing such schemes.

STATUS :

• An IMF study concluded  that such schemes have increased enrolment of girls especially at primary level.
• Initiatives such as distributing free bicycles to woman had a positive impact of education
• Only 16 states have also taken up Gender Budgeting.
• States are also taking steps to implement gender budgeting
• Scheme such as Beti Bachao ,Beti Padhao have had a positive impact
• These has been under utilization of the allotted funds as well as decrease in allocations.

REQUIREMENT ;

• Domestic labour and care work in household is not accounted for productive labour and impact woman negatively
• The total percentage of budgetary allocation has staggered around 5.5% for woman. There is an urgent need to increase net allocation for woman.
• Political empowerment has also had a significant impact on woman. Studies has identified that localities with woman representatives are sensitive to woman needs such as drinking water .
• Data on existing schemes should be gathered and analysed.
• Expanding  and improving the exiting schemes should be done. Care should be taken that no one deprived of the benefits  due to petty technicalities.
• All states should also take up gender budgeting at earliest.
• Public goods that benefit woman should be prioritised and expedited.

Further reading:

• MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMEN
• Long road to gender equality in India