Budgetary Allocation Through A Gender Lens

Overview

In the presentation of the Union Budget, 2024, Finance Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, announced that one of the Government's priorities will be employment and skilling, with a particular focus on higher participation of women in the workforce. Unlike previous Budgets, this year's Budget provides a fresh outlook on women's empowerment. It promises to prioritise the setting up of working women hostels and creches. Organising women-specific skilling programmes and promoting market access for 'self-help group' enterprises is touted to be another focal point. The dual proposals of establishing women's hostels and creches, while provisioning for upskilling programmes for women can improve their capacity to enter the workforce, as well as create conditions to retain women workers inside the paid economy.