Syllabus
GS Paper II – Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
Context
A recent report titled ‘Charting New Paths for Gender Equality and Empowerment: Asia-Pacific Regional Report on Beijing + 30 Review,’ published by UN ESCAP and UN Women, highlighted India’s strong commitment to efficient resource allocation through the adoption of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB).
Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) | Gender Equality and Empowerment
Introduction
The report titled “Charting New Paths for Gender Equality and Empowerment: Asia-Pacific Regional Report on Beijing+30 Review” was launched by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and UN Women at the UN Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment in Bangkok, Thailand. This comprehensive report assesses the progress achieved and the challenges encountered in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) over the past three decades. It underscores the need for continued efforts and innovative approaches to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment across the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting critical areas for policy intervention and resource allocation.
Key Insights from the Asia-Pacific Regional Report on Beijing +30 Review
- Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB):
- Commitment: Countries like India and the Philippines have adopted GRB, showcasing a strong commitment to resource allocation based on the needs of women and girls.
- Gender-Responsive Solutions in India:
- Time Poverty Reduction: Initiatives include the provision of clean cooking fuels, tap water connections, and the construction of toilets to alleviate the “time poverty” experienced by women.
- Definition: Time Poverty refers to insufficient time for essential needs and well-being activities due to excessive work or caregiving responsibilities.
- Challenges: Implementation of GRB is hindered by the absence of sex-disaggregated data and the exclusion of key programs benefiting women.
- Time Poverty Reduction: Initiatives include the provision of clean cooking fuels, tap water connections, and the construction of toilets to alleviate the “time poverty” experienced by women.
- Youth NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training):
- Current State: Many young individuals in the region are not engaged in employment, education, or training.
- Economic Transformation: Women benefit less from the shift from agriculture to manufacturing and services.
- Job Types: Often confined to informal, low-skilled, precarious jobs and underrepresented in STEM fields.
- STEM Workforce: In 12 out of 20 Asia-Pacific countries, women constitute less than 40% of the STEM workforce, limiting their involvement in high-growth industries.
- Women’s Representation in Politics:
- Parliamentary Seats: Women occupy 20.8% of parliamentary seats in the Asia-Pacific region, below the global average of 26.5%.
- Legal Frameworks: Gender equality legal frameworks exist in less than half of ESCAP member states, indicating inadequacy in legislative measures.
Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in India
- What is Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB)?
- Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is a tool designed to create budgets that are equitable for everyone.
- It achieves this by considering and analyzing the unique and diverse needs of each individual, thereby ensuring a fair distribution of resources.
- Genesis:
- Institutionalization: Introduced by the Ministry of Finance during 2005–2006.
- Budget Presentation: Gender Budget Statement is presented during the government’s budget session.
- Nodal Agency: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).
- Components:
- Part A: Covers schemes that allocate funds exclusively for women.
- Part B: Dominates the budget, comprising schemes that dedicate at least 30% of their funds to women.
- Association with Samarthya: Also included under the Samarthya sub-scheme of Mission Shakti.
- India’s Achievements in Gender Budgeting:
- 218% Increase: There has been a 218% decadal rise in gender budgeting.
- Current Allocation: For the current financial year, India has allocated $37 million towards gender budgeting.
- Women’s Leadership in Governance: India highlighted its “women-led” development model at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference, emphasizing women’s leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), supported by a 33% reservation.
- Empowerment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Women’s collectives and SHGs have significantly contributed to the financial empowerment of women, demonstrating India’s commitment to gender equality.
Factors Influencing Gender Equality in India
- Entrenched Social Norms:
- Patriarchal Attitudes: Deep-rooted patriarchal beliefs, prevalence of child marriage, and preference for sons restrict women’s mobility, education, and opportunities, contributing to skewed sex ratios in states like Haryana and Punjab.
- Unpaid Care Work:
- Domestic Responsibilities: Women spend nearly five times more time on unpaid domestic chores than men (UN Women), limiting their access to education and formal employment.
- Female Labour Participation Rate:
- Labour Force Dynamics: Despite a rise in women’s labour force participation to 37.0% in 2022-23, childcare responsibilities and the desire for further education continue to impede gender equality, as highlighted by the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2021-22.
- Gender Pay Gap:
- Economic Participation: Significant wage disparities persist, with India achieving only 36.7% parity in economic participation (Global Gender Gap Index 2023).
- Property Ownership:
- Disparities in Ownership: The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) indicates a gender gap in property ownership.
- Houses: 42.3% of women own a house compared to 62.5% of men.
- Land: 31.7% of women own land either alone or jointly, while 43.9% of men do so.
- Disparities in Ownership: The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) indicates a gender gap in property ownership.
- Violence Against Women:
- Domestic Violence: According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 29.3% of married women aged 18-49 have experienced domestic or sexual violence.
- Violence During Pregnancy: 3.1% of pregnant women aged 18-49 have faced physical violence during pregnancy.
- Education Gaps:
- Literacy Rates: According to the 2011 census, only 63% of women are literate compared to 80% of men.
- Global Ranking: India ranks 129th out of 146 economies in the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
- Literacy Gap: There is a 17% literacy rate gap between men and women.
- Political Underrepresentation:
- Parliamentary Representation: As of April 2024, India ranks 143rd in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s monthly ranking of women in national parliaments.
- Lok Sabha Representation: The Lok Sabha in 2024 includes 74 women MPs, comprising only 13.63% of the Lower House, far below the 33% reservation target set for implementation after the next delimitation exercise.
Measures taken to Improve Gender Equality
Indian Initiatives
- Legal Reforms:
- Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam 2023: Proposes 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies (awaiting implementation).
- Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005: Ensures equal property inheritance rights.
- Women-Centric Schemes:
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Aims to improve child sex ratios and promote girls’ education.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: Provides financial incentives for maternity care.
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Encourages savings for the education and marriage of girl children.
- Economic Empowerment:
- Participation in SHGs: Increased involvement in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
- Skill Development: Focus on skilling women through programs like Skill India and the Mahila E-Haat platform.
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence:
- Laws: Enactment of The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
- Health and Nutrition:
- Maternal and Child Health: Initiatives like Janani Suraksha Yojana and POSHAN Abhiyaan to ensure maternal and child health and combat malnutrition.
- Education:
- Educational Support: Free or subsidized education for girls under schemes like Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya.
- Awareness and Advocacy:
- Mahila Shakti Kendras: Promote awareness of gender equality and empower women at the grassroots level.
Global Initiatives
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948):
- Established gender equality as a fundamental human right.
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979):
- Known as the “Bill of Rights for Women,” this UN treaty outlines comprehensive measures to eliminate gender-based discrimination globally.
- Goal 5 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2015):
- Focuses explicitly on gender equality, aiming to end discrimination, eliminate violence, and ensure equal participation in leadership and decision-making.
- International Women’s Day (March 8):
- Celebrates women’s achievements and raises awareness about ongoing gender challenges globally.
- UN Women (2010):
- Serves as a global advocate for gender equality, working on programs related to economic empowerment, political participation, and ending gender-based violence.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000):
- Emphasizes the role of women in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and post-conflict recovery.
Way Forward
- International Learnings on Gender Equality:
- Legislation for Equal Opportunities:
- Equal Pay Laws: Iceland’s legislation for equal pay underscores the need for strong legal frameworks to close gender wage gaps.
- Global Ranking: Iceland holds the title of the world’s most gender-equal society for the 15th consecutive year as per the Global Gender Gap Report 2024.
- Representation in Leadership:
- Female Political Participation: Nations like Norway and New Zealand exemplify how increased female representation in politics and decision-making roles advances gender parity.
- Legislation for Equal Opportunities:
- Policy and Legal Reforms:
- Strengthening Laws: Enhance gender-sensitive laws and ensure robust enforcement.
- Implementation of Reservations: Expedite the execution of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.
- Investment in Social Infrastructure:
- Funding: Increase investments in health, education, and social protection systems to support gender equality.
- Data and Accountability:
- Gender-Disaggregated Data: Improve collection of gender-specific data to effectively monitor progress and ensure accountability.
- Transforming Social Attitudes:
- Male Participation: Promote male involvement in domestic responsibilities to alleviate the burden of unpaid care work on women.
- Digital Empowerment:
- Addressing Digital Divide: Ensure equitable access to technology and digital literacy programs to bridge the gender digital divide.
- Gender-Sensitive Education:
- Incorporating Gender Equality: Include gender equality in curricula, train educators to address biases, and create inclusive learning environments to empower all students equally.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the “Charting New Paths for Gender Equality and Empowerment: Asia-Pacific Regional Report on Beijing+30 Review” underscores the pivotal role of comprehensive strategies in advancing gender equality. Despite notable progress, persistent challenges necessitate sustained efforts across legal, social, and economic fronts. By adopting gender-responsive policies, enhancing legislative frameworks, and fostering inclusive social norms, countries in the Asia-Pacific region can create equitable environments that empower everyone to achieve their full potential. This report serves as a crucial guide for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of targeted actions and collaborative efforts to drive meaningful change and realize the vision of gender equality.
Source: DH
Related PYQ
Who are entitled to receive free legal aid? Assess the role of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in rendering free legal aid in India. [UPSC CSE – 2023 Mains]
Practice Question
Explain the importance of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in promoting gender equality and empowerment in India. What are the major challenges in its implementation and what measures can be taken to overcome these challenges? [150 words]
Guidelines to Answer the Question
- Introduction:
- Define Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB).
- Mention its significance in the context of gender equality and empowerment.
- Importance of GRB:
- Ensures equitable resource allocation.
- Influences gender-sensitive policy-making.
- Enhances women’s economic and social empowerment.
- Challenges:
- Lack of gender-disaggregated data.
- Low awareness among policymakers.
- Implementation issues across departments.
- Measures:
- Capacity building for officials.
- Improved data collection methods.
- Integration of GRB in policy-making.
- Strong monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Conclusion:
- Emphasize the need for effective implementation of GRB.
- Highlight the potential benefits for achieving gender equality and empowerment.