Women’s organisations have sought adequate resources in Budget 2013-14 for women-specific schemes and for implementation and monitoring of legislations pertaining to protection of women and children in all spheres.
“Allocation for widespread setting up of crisis intervention cells, short-stay homes, and other related measures to assist women victims of violence should receive special attention,” nine women’s organisations have demanded in a memorandum to Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, while seeking an appointment with him. “The State’s accountability to acknowledge and secure women’s leadership roles, and their entry into public life must be strengthened through the Budget provisions,” the memorandum said.
The organisations also sought higher budgetary support for schemes as well as pension to assist women-headed households, single women of different categories, senior citizens, victims of violence, and differently-abled women among others.
Noting that women’s work participation had shown a decline, the organisations said the Government must provide at least 200 days per household under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. “To address the depressing state of female employment in urban areas there is a need to enact an effective Urban Employment Guarantee Act,” they added.