National   

No relief for women in interim budget: AIDWA

NEW DELHI: The All-India Democratic Women’s Association has expressed disappointment that the interim budget had not addressed the negative impact of the global economic crisis on the economy, especially on the women.

At a time when job losses are becoming an everyday reality, affecting huge sections of unorganised workers in many sectors including textiles, garments, leather, diamond-cutting, construction, gems and jewellery, all of which have a high concentration of women workers, the government has refused to increase public spending to ensure relief for this section, says a statement issued by AIDWA.

The crisis in the rural sector needs, among other measures, an expansion of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and removal of the limit on the number of days of work. Unfortunately, the allocation for rural development has witnessed a reduction. Allotment for urban development and poverty alleviation has also been cut.

With prices of essential commodities still riding high, and food costs increasing, it was expected that the government will suggest measures to strengthen food security. Unfortunately, the interim budget has actually reduced the allocation for food subsidy.

The food subsidy reduction by Rs. 1,300 crore will mean a further weakening of the public distribution system, which has already witnessed sharp cut in allocation of food grains for APL (above poverty line) cards. The demand for a universalised PDS, which is the cornerstone of food security, has been completely ignored.

The allocation for the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme at Rs. 6,705 crore is inadequate, and cannot provide for the 14 lakh anganwadis to become functional, as per the Supreme Court directive.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Gupta evasive on demand for JPC probe into Satyam
Digvijay issuing irresponsible statements: Amar Singh
“Save H-1B visa holders”
The perils of the new Foreign Direct Investment policy
SIT plea to cancel anticipatory bail to Minister
Most IM men from Azamgarh
“Centre remaining aloof to alarming developments”
Justice Nirmal Yadav seeks witness statements
PM to head Ganga Basin Authority
No relief for women in interim budget: AIDWA
Menon reviews progress of pacts with Nepal
Renuka case: court reserves judgment
CPI(M) not part of Sikkim alliance
Sahitya Akademi awards for 23 litterateurs
Infosys institutes prizes to honour outstanding scientists
Buddhadeb: we’ll go ahead with industrialisation
Mumbai student kidnapped, murdered
“Focus on UPA betrayal of aam aadmi”

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu