Union Budget 2016-17: Impact on the Indian Working Women
India ranks 127th out of 152 nations in the Gender Inequality Index the expectations were of a budget that would work towards reducing the gap and making the budget women oriented, bridging the gap in all spheres, politics, education, employment and health.
On 29th February, the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley announced the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2016-17. The union budget 2016-17 has been a mixed bag for the women, especially the working women. Read on to know more…
Facing a lot of negative response due to decline in the funds allocated towards women-oriented schemes in the previous budget the government has increased the funding for women – specific scheme by 55% in the current budget. Some cheers!
Gender budget statement (GBS)
A budget that is working towards gender equality while it goes about allocating resources for the upcoming financial year, this involves reorientation and reprioritisation of the resources, in favour of the women.
In the recent years, it has been brought to light that gender inequality is the cause of inefficiency and which in turn would cost us the economic development of the country. Gender equality is also seen as an integral part of the Indian constitution. Keeping this in mind, the Indian government has gone for Gender Responsive Budgeting since 2005. But the scenario has been rather discouraging. The allocation made towards “women and child development’’ has been declining over the past years. This has been visible in the union budget 2016-17.
The total outlay of the Gender Budget Statement in 2016-17 is Rs. 90, 625 Crores as compared to Rs. 79, 258 Crores in 2015-16. The number of departments that report in the GBS has reduced from 34 to 31, but the percentage of gender budget to the total budget has not changed from 4.46%.
Ministry of Women and Child development
The department of women and child development came into existence in 2006 as a separate ministry. This was done with the vision to “Empowered women living with dignity and contributing as equal partners in development in an environment free from violence and discrimination.”
The Union Budget 2016-17 saw no change on the funds that were allocated towards women since last year.it was been allocated Rs. 17, 408 Crores, a nominal increase from Rs. 17,352 Crores in 2015-16.
Indira Gandhi Matritva Yojana (IGMSY)
It is a maternity benefits program under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, for pregnant and lactating women who are 19 years and above. It provides monetary compensation to make up for the loss of wage during childbirth and child care.
Rs. 400 Crore have been allocated for the IGMSY.
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)
The objective of this program was to empower the adolescent girls. It involves life skill education and vocational training for girls aged 16 years and above, along with improved nutrition and health education.
The program has been allocated Rs. 460 crores in the current year, a decline from the 2015-16 budget.
Nirbhaya Fund
Set up with the view of providing safety and security to the women of the country. It was announced in the 2013 budget. In the 2016-17 budget, Rs. 500 crores have been allocated for the Nirbhaya Fund
Also, Rs. 75 crore have been allocated for the establishment of the One Stop Centres in the country. Women Helpline (WHL) will provide 24 hours emergency response to women in distress. Rs.25Crores have been allocated towards WHL. Both the schemes will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund.
Protection and Empowerment of women
Money allocated towards this has increased from Rs. 127 Crores in the previous budget to Rs. 313 Crores in 2016-17.
This scheme includes :
I. National Mission for Empowerment of Women
NMEW was founded on 8th March 2010, on International Women’s Day, with the sole purpose of promoting holistic development of women in the country.
In the budget 2016, the allocation for NMEW has been doubled to INR 50 crore.
II. Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP)
With the view of enhancing the earning capacity of the women above the age of 16 by providing them with training and enhance their skills which in turn would improve their employability.
Stand Up India Scheme
In the Union budget 2016, 500 crores have been allocated for SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
Stand Up India Scheme aims specifically at encouraging entrepreneurship among women and the scheduled caste and tribes. The loans under the scheme will range from INR 1 lakh to 1 crore.
National Commission for Women
NCW was set up in 1992 with the agenda to improve the status of the women and to empower them.
In the previous budget had Rs. 23.15 Crores allocated for NCW. There has been a nominal increase in the funds allocated towards National Commission for Women from the previous years.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
MGNREGA has been playing a crucial role in generating employment in rural India, and has shown a real improvement in the number of women getting employment.Rs. 38,500 have been allocated for MGNREGA in 2016-17” an increase of Rs. 3,800 Crore from the previous budget.
Liquefied petroleum gas connection in the name of women in rural areas
In this year’s budget Rs. 2000 Crore have been kept aside to meet the cost of providing LPG connection in the name of the women in the rural areas. Priyadarshini Yojana has been discontinued. It started in the year 1989 with the purpose of promoting entrepreneurship among women has been allocated Rs.5 Crore in the previous budgets.
However, the budget falls short when it comes to working women; there is no initiative for the skill enhancement of women. The budget has failed to give any kind of support service for working women force of India, which is increasing with each passing day!
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