Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context?
1. Gender budgeting assesses the differential impact
Gender budgeting assesses the differential impact of budgetary allocations and revenue measures on women and men.
2. It requires gender-disaggregated data
It requires gender-disaggregated data, gender analysis of expenditure, and reallocation of funds to close gender gaps.
3. India adopted gender budgeting in 2005-06;
India adopted gender budgeting in 2005-06; the Gender Budget Statement has two parts — 100% women-specific and 30-99% pro-women schemes.
4. Ministries must prepare Gender Budget Statements
Ministries must prepare Gender Budget Statements identifying women-specific and pro-women schemes each year.
5. The Ministry of Women and Child
The Ministry of Women and Child Development and Gender Budget Cells across ministries operationalize the exercise.
6. The gender budget share of total
The gender budget share of total Union expenditure has stagnated at around 4-6%, far below stated needs.
7. Outcomes suffer due to weak gender-disaggregated
Outcomes suffer due to weak gender-disaggregated data, untrained officials and thin coverage of schemes.
8. States like Kerala and Odisha have
States like Kerala and Odisha have institutionalized gender budgeting, but most states still lag behind.
9. Stronger audit
Stronger audit, outcome tracking and dedicated allocations would make budgeting genuinely gender-responsive.
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