Published on 17 Feb 2025
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) defines gender budgeting as a tool to achieve gender mainstreaming so as to ensure that the benefits of development reach women as much as men. India’s Gender Budget was allocated Rs.2.17 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2024-25.
Significance of Gender Budgeting in India
✔ Promoting gender equality: Gender budgeting helps in identifying and addressing gender-based inequalities in the distribution of resources. By considering the specific needs and priorities of different genders, it contributes to creating a more equitable society.
● Example: India ranks 127th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, showing the level of gender inequality persisting in India.
✔ Empowering women: By allocating resources for programs and policies that empower women, such as education, healthcare and employment opportunities, it supports their active participation in various spheres of life.
● Example: As per World Economic Forum, it would take 149 years for South Asia to attain gender parity, indicating the urgent need to empower women.
✔ Enhancing accountability: Gender budgeting requires the government to report on how resources have been allocated to benefit both men and women, making it easier to track the impact of policies and programs on gender outcomes.
✔ Addressing social norms and cultural practices: It can challenge and transform traditional gender roles and stereotypes by allocating resources to programs that challenge harmful cultural practices and norms.
✔ Facilitate economic growth: Empowering women through improving their education and health standards increases their contribution to the economy, thus facilitating growth.
● Example: As per a report published by NITI Aayog, women contribute to only 18% of India’s GDP. Gender budgeting could increase this significantly, leading to economic growth.
✔ Inclusive development: Gender budgeting ensures that development is more uniform and equitable across the society, without any gender bias.
● Example: Gender budgeting could improve the education, health, employability and economic position of women, which is inherent to inclusive development.
How India has adopted gender budgeting
Gender budget statement (GBS) was first introduced in the Indian Budget in 2005-06. This GBS comprises two parts-
✔ Part A- reflects Women Specific Schemes. i.e. those which have 100% allocation for women. This includes:
● Mission Shakti: The umbrella scheme targets protection and empowerment of women through programmes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Women Helpline, One Stop Centre, Matru Vandana Yojana etc.
o Example: Allocation to the programme has been around 3140 crore in the FY 2023-24 budget.
● Mahila Samman Savings Certificate: A one-time savings scheme for women which allows deposit facility up to 2 lakh for two years.
o Example: As per Ministry of Finance, more than 14 lakh accounts worth over 8600 crore have been opened under Mahila Samman Savings scheme.
● Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin and Urban : Construction of houses in the name of women members, and hence might facilitate their empowerment.
o Example: The scheme alone constitutes 70% of the Part A allocation and 14% of the total gender budget.
✔ Part B- reflects Pro Women Schemes, i.e. those where at least 30% of the allocation is for women. Includes:
● PM POSHAN scheme: To ensure food and nutritional security among children and to increase the student participation in schools.
o Example: 11600 crore has been allocated to the programme as per FY 2023-24 budget.
● National Rural Livelihoods Mission: Promotion of self-help groups, which offers potential for improving the economic and social well-being of women.
o Example: According to the Ministry of Rural Development, more than 8 crore women have been mobilized into around 74 lakh SHGs through this scheme.
● MGNREGA: Intends to provide one-third of overall jobs created to women with guaranteed minimum wage and unemployment allowance.
o Example: According to the Ministry of Rural Development, around 56.62% employees under the scheme have been women.
● Skill India Programme: A composite of three sub-schemes– Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0, National A apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and Jan Shikshan Sansthan, which promotes women's skill development and training.
o Example: Based on government speech in Lok Sabha, Women constitute 81% of the 13.8 lakh non-literate and neo-literates under Jan Shikshan Sansthan.
Scope for improvement
✔ Part A schemes to be more refined: Schemes which benefit entirely women shall only be placed under Part A.
● Example: Awaz Yojana increased the allocation for part A, but women do not take full benefit of the scheme. Hence, this could be considered a part B programme.
✔ Participatory approaches: Increase community and stakeholder participation in the budgetary process, especially involving women and marginalized groups.
✔ Outcome based budgeting: Move towards outcome based budgeting that focuses on the impact of budgetary allocations on gender equality.
✔ Private sector engagement: Encourage and engage the private sector in promoting gender equality by incorporating gender practices in their operations and reporting.
Continuous improvement in gender budgeting requires a commitment from policymakers, government institutions, civil society and other stakeholders to address emerging challenges and adapt strategies to evolving contexts. Regular evaluation and a willingness to learn from experiences contribute to the effectiveness and sustainability of gender budgeting initiatives.
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