Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub
The Government of India has recently progressed in gender budgeting with the launch of the Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub. This initiative aims to enhance the understanding and implementation of gender budgeting processes across various sectors. The launch occurred during a national consultation held in New Delhi, denoting the government’s commitment to inclusive governance.
Gender Budgeting
Gender budgeting is a strategy that integrates gender considerations into the budgetary process. It seeks to allocate resources in a way that promotes gender equality. Initially viewed as a fiscal exercise, it has evolved into a vital tool for policy-making. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the importance of women’s empowerment in national development.
Launch of the Knowledge Hub
The Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub serves as a digital repository. It consolidates information pertaining to gender budgeting for central and state ministries, departments, and other stakeholders. The hub aims to facilitate access to resources and best practices, encouraging collaboration among various entities involved in gender budgeting.
Financial Commitment
For the financial year 2025–26, the Government of India has allocated ₹4.49 lakh crore for gender budgeting. This represents 37 per cent increase from the previous year. Over the past eleven years, gender budget allocations have quadrupled, rising from ₹0.98 lakh crore in 2014–15 to the current allocation. This financial commitment puts stress on the government’s dedication to gender equality.
National Consultation Highlights
The national consultation was a very important event. It brought together senior officials from 40 central ministries and 19 states. Experts from UN Women and the Asian Development Bank also participated. Discussions focused on measures to enhance gender budgeting processes. Participants shared successful initiatives and good practices from various schemes.
Training Manual Development
A draft Training Manual on Gender Budgeting was discussed during the consultation. This manual is designed as a capacity-building tool. It aims to provide practical guidance on gender budgeting in India. The manual is expected to aid officials in understanding the complexities of gender-sensitive budgeting.
Achievements and Challenges
The consultation reflected on the journey of gender budgeting in India over the past twenty years. While achievements have been made, challenges remain. These include ensuring effective implementation and monitoring of gender budgets across sectors. Continuous engagement and collaboration are essential for overcoming these hurdles.
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