The Hindu : National : Gender affirmative action lacking in budget, says AIDWA

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Saturday, Jul 10, 2004

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Gender affirmative action lacking in budget, says AIDWA

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 9. The All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) today said that the Union Finance Minister, P.Chidambaram's understanding of gender budgeting appeared partial.

The concept includes a comprehensive approach to address the discrimination faced by women in all spheres of allocation and use of national resources on the basis of affirmative action, the AIDWA general secretary, Brinda Karat, said in a statement here.

Referring to his meeting with the women's groups on considering gender budgeting, the Finance Minister had said — while presenting the Budget proposals — it meant the budget data should be presented in a manner that clearly highlighted the gender sensitivities of the allocations.

Mr. Chidambaram informed the House that an expert group on "Classification System of Government Transactions" submitted its report on July 6 and recommended appropriate systems for data collection and representation in the Budget. The group also recommended introduction of periodic benefit-incidence analysis, Mr. Chidambaram said, adding that the Government would examine the recommendations and hopefully they would be implemented in the next Budget.

"Even as the Finance Minister has not been bold enough either in resource allocation or in gender affirmative action, he has raised the Foreign Direct Investment levels in crucial sectors which is not in the interest of either the industry or the country," the statement said.

Welcoming the two per cent cess for expansion of primary education and the mid-day meal scheme besides redesigning of the health insurance schemes, including for self-help groups, the AIDWA statement said that these would greatly help women if properly implemented. "However, the actual increase in budgetary allocations to back up the promises should have been much more if it is to make any difference in the lives of the people. When the allocation is itself inadequate, the women's component of the budget can hardly increase," Ms. Karat said.

At a time when the common minimum programme (CMP) has to a certain extent recognised the acute conditions of distress of a large section of people, it was expected that the first Budget would reflect the commitments made in the CMP to the poor and come up with concrete steps and massive expenditures essential to ameliorate the conditions of the poor. ``In this respect the Budget is disappointing. It falls short of the mandate given to this Government across the country against the economic burdens by the previous regime," she said.

Ms. Karat said they had hoped that excise duties on cooking gas would be reduced but were disappointed.

"The increase of Antodaya families by another 50 lakh is definitely not sufficient. Moreover, the so-called pilot scheme of food stamps is a step away from universalisation of the Public Distribution System and must be strongly opposed,'' she added.

Prestigious positions sought

The Joint Action Front for Women, a conglomeration of women's groups, has appealed to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to give preference to women while making appointments for the posts of Governors, ambassadors and other such high positions.

In a memorandum to Dr. Singh, the front has also demanded a budgetary increase for education targeting women and girl children, the passage of the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Bill and the implementation of a national policy for women for which it has even recommended constitution of a monitoring committee.

Suggesting the appointment of a commissioner for women's rights in the wake of growing violence against women, the front said that for two decades women had been seeking the establishment of a national resource centre for women. However, it had remained at the discussion stage only.

Plan for Dalit, women

Steps should be taken to stop the incidence of sexual abuse, prostitution and sex tourism that also posed a serious HIV/AIDS threat, the memorandum said.

There was also a need for formulation of a special component plan for the Dalit and poor women, provide jobs for unemployed young girls and special schemes and credit facilities for women.

The front has demanded appropriate policies for implementation of laws for women in the unorganised sector so that they get maternity leave, minimum wages and equal pay for equal work.

It also sought an advisory committee to review the Budget so that a gender-just budget can be formulated.

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