Karnataka's gender budget lacks clarity

The overall outlay of the gender budget does not clearly state the breakup of how the direct and indirect benefits will be availed by the public.

Allocation of Rs12.5 crore for promoting activities of Stree Shakti groups including facility of mobile vans for sale of products is, in a way, giving control of the scheme to men.

“In rural areas, women don’t drive. Instead, men drive the vans around to sell products or go to a bank or for any other activity. I would have appreciated if the chief minister had given concessions for women in public transport instead of giving mobile vans,” said Dr R Indira, professor of sociology and director of International Centre, University of Mysore.

Further, the fuel used for the vans is a recurring cost and the government must specify who should bear its cost, she said.
The budget also allocates social security pension for eligible persons in the age group of 65 and 80 to be increased to Rs500 from April onwards.

 “There is a gender angle to ageing. The government must specify how many women will be benefited by this pension scheme. Also, in the era of increasing prices, Rs500 is too frugal as majority of the impoverished lot are women,” she said. The budget provides Rs500 crore for implementation of Bhagyalakshmi scheme. “Here again, though the scheme is in vogue and it is progressive, there is no clear mechanism of monitoring it. Even today, early marriages are prevalent and many don’t even collect marriage certificates. False certificates and fraudsters need to be kept under check,” she said.

Overall, social security and women and child development have not been given due priority, experts felt.

Other highlights in the sector are provision of Rs75 crore for construction of 1795 new buildings for existing anganwadi centres and Rs15 crore for maintenance of the centres.

A job placement cell for physically challenged people will be set up besides allocation of Rs8 crore for assisting NGOs in running special schools for physically challenged children.

For Bangalore, Sumangali Sewashrama, which is looking after women and orphans, will be given Rs50 lakh.

Bala Bhawan activities will get a grant of Rs50 crore with Rs3 crore to be provided for district-level activities.

Professor of sociology and director of International Centre, University of Mysore