The Union government of India is gearing up for the 2024-25 budget, and one of its primary areas of focus is women’s welfare. This commitment is in alignment with the September 2023 Delhi Declaration under the G20 India presidency.
The government is set to increase gender budgeting by at least 30% year-on-year. Let’s explore the significance of this endeavor and the impact it may have on women’s well-being.
Gender Budgeting: A Remarkable Progress
Over the years, the Indian government has steadily increased the gender budgeting allocation. In the 2023-24 budget estimates, this allocation reached an impressive ₹2.23 lakh crore, up from less than ₹1 lakh crore in the 2013-14 budget estimates. The rise in funding is a testament to the government’s growing commitment to addressing women’s needs and empowering them.
Reasons for Renewed Focus
Several significant factors have contributed to this renewed emphasis on gender budgeting. First, the inclusion of gender-related issues in the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration in September 2023 underscored the global importance of this matter. Second, the government enacted the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,’ which supports women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies. Lastly, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech in her maiden budget in 2019 emphasized the need to advance gender budgeting.
Budgetary Process and Implications
The government has initiated pre-budget meetings, which began on October 10 and will continue until November 14, to review the revised estimates for FY24 and establish the budget estimates for FY25. It remains to be seen whether this increased focus on women’s welfare will be reflected in the forthcoming budget presentation. While the tradition has been to present a vote on account (VOA) in February, with the full Union Budget following after national elections, recent years have seen more extensive VOA presentations, indicating a potential shift in focus.
Gender Budgeting: A Transformative Endeavor
Introduced in 2005-06, gender budgeting initially served as a passive exercise for mapping expenditures from a gender perspective. However, as the years have progressed, it has evolved into an active endeavor with greater allocations dedicated to women. In FY06, the budget estimate for gender-specific schemes was ₹14,379 crore.
Current Gender Budget Allocation
In the present financial year of 2023-24, the overall gender budget (combining Part A and Part B) stands at ₹2,23,219.75 crore. Part A, dedicated to 100% women-specific programs, has an allocation of ₹88,044.21 crore, while Part B, which contains schemes with at least 30% allocation for women, has an estimated budget of ₹1,35,175.54 crore. It is anticipated that these budget estimates will be revised upward in the revised estimates for 2023-24.
Budget Priorities
The budget allocates significant resources to various programs that benefit women. These include the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, initiatives in women’s science education, and programs under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. These provisions underscore the government’s dedication to women’s empowerment.
Encouraging Women Entrepreneurs and Participation in STEM
In addition to financial support, the government is actively promoting women’s participation in entrepreneurship and STEM fields. It recognizes the importance of women’s economic independence and aims to create opportunities for them. Efforts are underway to make education, healthcare, and economic empowerment accessible to women.
Conclusion
The increased focus on gender budgeting in India’s 2024-25 budget reflects a commitment to women’s welfare and empowerment. This budgetary shift has the potential to enhance the lives of millions of women across the country and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals. As women’s participation in various fields continues to grow, it’s clear that India is moving towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
