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Budgetary allocation a must to end gender discrimination

Speakers tell Mahila Parishad meeting

Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a meeting yesterday demanded specific budgetary allocation and investment for women to ensure their rights and eliminate discrimination against them.
They said elimination of 'the existing discrimination between men and women' is the biggest challenge that still remains neglected.
The meeting was organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at the National Press Club in the capital.
The speakers said, “If we want to ensure equal rights for all according to the constitution, we should prepare the national budget accordingly."
Resources should be allocated in the budget considering gender perspective and steps should be taken to eradicate discrimination between men and women going
beyond the traditional concept of poverty reduction, said Parishad General Secretary Maleka Banu.
In a written speech she said while preparing the budget, the issues of women empowerment and equality between men and women should be taken care of along with the issue of poverty reduction.
While analysing the prevailing discrimination against women in the society, Dr Nazneen Ahmed, research fellow of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said although the amount of money allocated for women has been increased in recent budgets, in reality it has been reduced when compared to other sectors.
So die allocation and investment for women should be ipcreased in the budget, she added.
Noted economist Dr Atiur Rahman said more resource alloca-
tion for women is not enough, Its implementation is equally relevant and (he finance advisor should specify in his budget speech how the budget allocation would be disbursed.
“Though the finance adviser had told about 22 percent budget allocation for women in last fiscal year, he did not explain in which sector and how the budget would be disbursed," he said, terming the budget a political document though it seems an economic document.
The gender issue should be brought into the mainstream of the national budget and identifying the demand of the women's community it should be prepared, said (lie speakers, adding, specific amount should be allocated to resist violence againstwomen.
They said ensuring accountability and transparency is important in
utilising the money tha( is allocated in the budget for the development ofwomen.
The speakers also stressed the need for strengthening the women's role at the local government level, and said the local government should be empowered economically.
Besides, sector-wise budget allocation is important in implementing the National Women's Development Policy with strong political commitment, they added.
Parishad President Ayesha Khanam chaired the meeting where President of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Selima Ahmed, Gender Specialist Tapati Saha, Ranjan Karmaker of Steps Towards Development, and Rokeya Kabir of Nari Pragati Sangha were present.