THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Gender budgeting, one of the core features of
Kerala budget
is going strong with each passing year, stated the economic review.
In 2020-21, Rs 1,509.33 crore has been provided for women specific schemes and an amount of Rs 2,300.54 cr for composite schemes has been made available for women. A total Rs 3,809.87 crore constitutes the gender budget for 2020-21, which is 18.4% of the total state plan outlay, said the review.
“Government’s policies are oriented towards gender equality and empowerment. To support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within family, community and at workplace, One Stop Centres (OSCs) are functioning in state. Kerala is one of the first states to have OSCs in all districts,” the document said.
Over the past few years, the state witnessed more individual women startups, nano-micro enterprises under IT and industries sector, the special livelihood development package of Kudumbashree and SHGs of other organisations that need to be sustained to ensure women’s participation in economic activities.
“Kerala is way ahead of other states in terms of some dimensions of women empowerment. However, there are areas of concern such as wage disparity and concentration of women in low-income jobs and gender-based violence that need to be addressed. Likewise, the participation of women in the decision-making bodies at higher levels (legislative assembly and Parliament) is very low and it needs to be considered seriously,” the report said.
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