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Introduction          

Ministry of Women and Child Development as a strategy to ensure gender equality in the distribution of resources and benefits under Gender Budgeting issues an annual Gender Budget Statement to review and allocate funds for women-centric programs. Recently, the 2023 Union Budget showed a remarkable 23% increase in gender budgeting.  

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Significance of gender budgeting for women’s empowerment in India

• Addressing gender disparities: It gives fiscal space to women-centric policies. Eg: The Gender Budgeting Cell works to earmark funds exclusively for programs aimed at women’s development.
• Focus on Education: It allocates resources to girl-child education, thus raising literacy rates and empowering them with knowledge. Example: The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme targets education for girls.
• Healthcare Access: Gender budgeting allocates funds to improve maternal health and contraception, effectively empowering women to make decisions about their bodies. Example: The Janani Suraksha Yojana program helps pregnant women in rural areas.
• Legal Empowerment: Resources are designated to enhance women’s access to justice, like fast-track courts for heinous crimes against women. Example: Nirbhaya Fund is set up for the safety and dignity of women.
• Microcredit Schemes: Gender budgeting encourages financial inclusion by funding micro-credit schemes designed for women. Example: Self-Help Groups (SHGs) like SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) get fiscal incentives.
• Public Services: It considers the needs of women in designing public services, from transport to sanitation, making public spaces more accessible and safer for women. Example: “Pink” buses and women-only compartments in metro trains.
• Social Welfare Programs: The budget specifically targets vulnerable groups, such as widows or victims of domestic violence, ensuring they receive targeted financial support. Example: Indira Gandhi Widow Pension Scheme helps support widows financially.
• Monitoring and Transparency: Gender budgeting involves not just allocation but also the tracking of funds, ensuring they are used for their intended purpose, which inherently holds the system accountable. Eg: Gender budget statements in the Union Budget bring transparency in allocation and spending.

Challenges hampering the potential of gender budgeting for women’s empowerment in India

• Low Quantum of Budget: The gender budget in India remains between 4-6% of the total expenditure and less than 1% of the GDP, indicating limited fiscal space. Example: Despite higher literacy rates among women, the allocation for women’s education remains inadequate.
• Ministry Concentration: Around 90% of the gender budget is concentrated in five key ministries: Rural Development, Women and Child Development, Agriculture, Health and Family Welfare, and Education, leading to limited sectoral diversification. 
• Post-Covid Oversight: The impact of Covid-19 on women, especially in 2021-22 and 2022-23, hasn’t been adequately addressed. Example: Job losses among women during the pandemic were not countered with specific allocation in the gender budget.
• Disputed Allocations: The major increase in the budget primarily benefited the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which is not women-exclusive. Example: Questions arise about whether the housing scheme directly empowers women or not.
• Decrease in Mission Shakti: Despite its importance, the allocation for Mission Shakti, crucial for women’s protection, saw a decrease of 1.2% in the union budget 2023. Example: A reduced budget could hinder the effectiveness of schemes like the Nirbhaya Fund.
• Missed Livelihood Opportunities: Despite MGNREGA being one of the largest scheme under gender budgeting, it does not fully address the livelihood issues faced by women. Eg: The focus remains on manual labour, missing out on skill development or entrepreneurial training for women.

Way Ahead 

• Incorporate Gender Lens: While exclusive schemes are beneficial, it’s essential to apply a gender perspective across all government schemes uniformly. Eg: In infrastructure planning, ensure safety measures such as better-lit streets and secure public transportation, making cities safer for women.
• Gender Budget Cells: Expand and strengthen the Gender Budget Cells to oversee the effective allocation and utilisation of resources. Example: Include members from the civil society and academia who bring an external perspective to budget planning.
• From Reporting to Purposive Planning: Shift the focus from mere “reporting” of allocations to “purposive planning” that aims to empower women through targeted initiatives. Eg: Use feedback mechanisms involving women’s groups to inform budget allocation for more effective planning.
• Gender Disaggregated Data: Implement a robust system to track gender-specific data to gauge the impact of various schemes on men and women differently. Example: Agriculture subsidies could be analysed to ensure they are benefiting women farmers as much as men.
• Increase Budget Transparency: Streamline and make public all processes and allocations concerning the Gender Budget, thus encouraging civic participation and oversight. Example: Public dashboards can show real-time tracking of gender budget allocations and spending.
• Innovative Financing: Explore non-traditional funding methods like Public-Private Partnerships specifically aimed at gender-related projects. Example: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds could be directed towards women’s healthcare.

Conclusion 

The future of gender budgeting in India is promising, with increasing awareness and political will to drive change. There is a need for adopting innovative strategies, focusing on data-driven planning, and encouraging decentralised Decision-making to ensure gender equality and women’s true empowerment in India.

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