India Union Budget 2022: What women want
Categories: Budget Special
Union Budget 2022 is just around the corner and citizens and experts alike are keen to know what it will have for women. This has gained importance as allocation for scheme for women decreased by 26 per cent from the levels in 2020 budget. The allocation came down from Rs 20,72,610 millon in years 2020 to Rs 15,33,260 million in year 2021. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, during his speech that kicked off Indian Parliament's budget session on MOnday underlined the role and importance of participation of women in the country's development. The president said that women's empowerment is one of the top priorities of the government. "Women participation in the development of the rural economy is increasing. In the year 2021-22, 28 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs) were given financial support of Rs 65,000 crore by the banks," the President said while addressing both the houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget session.Kovind further informed that the Centre has trained thousands of such groups and helped them participate as `Banking Sakhi`. "These women are connecting banking services in rural areas to each and every household there," he said. Highlighting the schemes introduced by the Centre to help women, the President said that the success of Ujjwala Yojna has been witnessed by all and with the help of schemes like Mudra Yojna, more than 15 crore people have been benefited and around 4 crore people have started their own business.Kovind also mentioned the `Beti Bachao, Beti padhao` campaign, adding that it yielded positive results as the number of girls taking admission in schools has increased significantly. To ensure equality between genders, the Centre has proposed to increase the marriageable age of women from 18 to 21, he said.He said that by brining in a law against Triple Talaq, the Centre has abolished a social evil prevalent in Muslim society, "and Muslim women will no longer need to be accompanied by a blood-relative (Mehram) to go for Haj pilgrimage," he added. Upliftment of the gender demographic needs investment in government-backed programmes, incubation centres for businesses led by women. MSMEs led by women would benefit from, interest-free loans. Similarly focussing on girls' and women's education would go a long way in building a better society.