What Do Indian Women Expect From Upcoming Union Budget 2022?

Women Expectations From Budget 2022: As the country recovers from the pandemic situation and brunt of various lockdowns in the country, the situation of working and household women folk hood does not seem to be on a good note. As per the Global Gender Gap Report 2021 by World Economic Forum, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted women in India. India is 28 ranks lower than it was in 2020. (In 2020, it ranked 112 while in 2021 it ranked 140 out of 156 countries).

The Budget 2022-23 will be presented by the Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2022, in the Parliament of India. Here is what women of India expect from the upcoming budget.

Women Expectations From Budget 2022-23-

1. Support to Women Education-

Even though India fares well in overall literacy rate which stands at 77.70%, where female literacy is just 70.30% in comparison to male literacy at 84.70% (data by National Statistical Office- NSO). As a result of this, there is demand from common people to boost women's and girls' education to bridge the gap between literacy rates in the coming years. 

2. Development of incubation centre supporting women-led business-

With the need of developing better business ideas and network in tone with the demands of industry in present times, there is a need for more incubation centres where the ideas are supported through greater funding to women-led and women-comprising businesses. Female Labour Participation rate fell to 16.1% in 2021 as the pandemic hit jobs impacting women at large.

3. In-line policies to curb dropouts of girls -

As per the reports of a Parliamentary panel, girls were worst hit by the pandemic situation in access to education. The committee on women empowerment called for the government to take up steps to prevent dropouts of girls from school in poor families or due to the digital divide.

The need to boost digital infrastructure facilities through a focus on girl education remains the prime demand in the coming budget.

4. Boosting the Women-Led MSME-

Only 20% of the 6 crores registered MSMEs are led by women. Over 11% of the businesses were shut due to the lockdown imposed in 2020 and thereby there is a special need for the incentive for faster recovery.

The reports suggest the reason for such a low number of women in MSME can be attributed to factors like unconscious biases, access to finance, lack of safe and secure public spaces, lack of support from family or lesser child-care options.

5. Increase in Gender Budgeting-

The 2021-22 Union Budget earmarked only about 5 percent of the total budget for gender budgeting. This achieves gender mainstreaming to ensure that benefits of development reach women equally like men.

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6. Women Safety-

As the cases of crime against women increase, there is a need for a special impetus to the safety in form of physical and digital infrastructure. As per data by National Commission for Women, there has been a 30 percent rise in complaints of crimes against women in 2021 as compared to 2020.

Cyber crimes have manifested in many forms like Bulli Bai, Sulli Deals, which needs to be tackled through informed and earmarked budget making to counter them 

7. Menstrual Hygiene Awareness-

Prioritising Menstrual Hygiene Management in form of infrastructure development and providing awareness and education in terms of menstrual health needs to be taken care of in the upcoming Budget. Each year sees multiple cases of women dying due to lack of hygiene facilities. Menstrual hygiene products, sexual and reproductive health care that got compromised due to COVID care needs to be focused on with the increase in specific allocation to National Health Mission. 

8. More Saving For Women-

This can be taken care of through the provision of Section 80C which allows a maximum deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh from the total income of the taxpayer. This can benefit women and help them save more, encouraging family members to make women participate more in labour force. 

9. Greater Women Recruitment in Government Wings-

While the private sector is under scrutiny by the government to make its facility easily accessible for women, there is a dearth of women in government wings- be it police, administration, or judiciary. The employment opportunities should be increased and the gender divide should be lessened for more sensitisation in the services