The government plans to increase allocation for different aspects of women empowerment in the coming budget for fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22) as part of its commitment to ensure equal and active participation of women in the mainstream socio-economic activities.
"We're planning to increase allocation proportionately for women empowerment in the coming budget because the government has given highest priority on social, economic and political empowerment of women," said a finance ministry official.
He said the government had increased allocation for women development in all national budgets from fiscal year 2009-10 to 2018-19 and on an average the allocation witnessed a rise by 22 percent during the period.
Allocation for women development in the national budget was Tk 27,248 crore in 2009-10, which increased to Tk 137,742 crore in 2018-19, the official added.
In the fiscal year 2019-20, allocation for women development was Tk 1,61,247 crore which was 30.82 percent of total budget and 5.56 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the finance ministry.
Among the ministries/divisions, a large part of the total budget on women's development was spent by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Cooperatives Division.
While elaborating development of socio-economic conditions of women, the finance ministry official said about 70 percent of the beneficiaries of various projects of the rural development and co-operatives department are women.
The standard of the living of 15.74 lakh women under the Prime Minister’s dream project "My House My Farm (One House One Farm)" and about 2.65 lakh women under "Comprehensive Rural Development Program (CVDP) -2nd stage" project have improved.
In continuation of this, implementation of Rural Poverty Alleviation Foundation's expansion project and implementation of small farmer development foundation support project are improving living standard of 2.05 lakh and 69,000 poor women respectively.
Besides, under improvement of the living standard of underprivileged women through rearing of cows of improved breed Project of Directorate of Cooperatives, sustainable employment is created for 7,500 women by providing them training and resource support.
The government has been providing elderly allowance to 40 lakh people including 19.37 lakh women, food and employment support to 10.40 lakh widows and destitute women under VGD (Vulnerable group development) program, grant to 10 lakh disabled people, maternity allowance to 7 lakh poorest mothers and allowance to 2.50 lakh working lactating mother targeted for creating an effective social safety net.
In the next FY20, the number of elder, widow, maternity and lactating mother support beneficiaries was increased from 40 lakhs to 44 lakhs, 14 lakhs to 17 lakh, 7.00 lakh to 7.70 lakh and 2.50 lakh to 2.75 lakh.
"The government is considering to increase the number of elderly, widow, maternity and lactating mother support beneficiaries in the coming fiscal year (FY22).