Union Budget 2006
Kabir Swarup
| Budget 2006: There's little in it for women, workers, say activists |
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At a time when millions of women are migrating to cities in search of work, the budget outlay on working women's hostels has actually been cut, says the All-India Democratic Women's Association |
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India's Budget 2006, presented to Parliament on February 28, has very little in it for Indian women, says the All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA). The country's largest women's political grouping said Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram had not moved much in the direction of fulfilling the promises made to women in the National Common Minimum Programme. As far as a vast majority of poor and working women are concerned, their expectations have been completely belied, said a statement issued by AIDWA. Most women in India work in the agricultural sector (many are farmers) which has largely been ignored, the statement added. At a time when millions of women are migrating to cities in search of work, the outlay on working women's hostels has actually been cut, AIDWA points out. Also, expenditure on extending the Integrated Child Development Scheme was meagre and fell far short of universalising the welfare scheme. Meanwhile, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, an organisation of close to 3 million workers, said that though there was no imposition of new taxes or a hike in tax rates in the budget, there was no relief for the common man either. The popular demand for relief from tax burdens on welfare and housing facilities had gone unheeded, said a statement by the organisation. Similarly, the All-India Trade Union Congress has described the budget as "disappointing," as none of the suggestions made by trade unions had been accepted. The budget makes no mention of the proposed Social Security Bill for workers in the unorganised sector in India who remain severely exploited. Source: The Hindu, March 2, 2006 |