Women activists, economists and representatives of non-government organizations on Thursday expressed their dismay at 'insufficient' budgetary allocation for women development.
At a view exchange programme titled 'National Budget 2011-12 : Analysis of Gender Sensitivity', held at the National Press Club, they called for increasing the allocation for development of women who make significant contributions to national economy.
They also suggested formation of a gender budget monitoring cell.
Participants at the discussion urged the government to recognise women farmers as agriculture workers so that they can avail facilities like the male farmers.
They also stressed the need for setting up of welfare fund for female garment workers and daycare centres at garment factories for the children of female workers.
They recommended for adequate directives in the budget for women's higher education and old women's rehabilitation. They also called for creating public awareness to make people gender sensitive.
Salma Khan, former chairperson of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, said that budgetary allocation for women development in different sectors has been inadequate.
'This budget does not reflects on how women empowerment will be ensured to reduce gender gap,' she said.
Salma said price hike of essential commodities affected women's health and nutrition which was completely overlooked in the national budget.
Dina M. Siddiqi, a visiting professor of BRAC University, said that access to health facilities and health rights of women was neglected in the proposed budget.
She said that government should have allocated adequate fund to execute the women development policy.
Director of Bangladesh Bank Hannana Begum, Dhaka University professor MM Akash, Steps Towards Development executive director Ranjan Karmakar, among others, participated in the discussions.
Source : New Age
