In the wake of many largely-publicized stories of rape and discrimination out of India, last weeks release of the new Indian budget had a new focus on women and women related organizations. This new budget includes an increase in spending to improve the safety of women as well as the creation of an all female bank. Since women's rights and protection have taken the spotlight in the political realm in December, Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram stressed that groups that have been discriminated against in the past need to be taken into consideration or they "will be left behind." He encouraged "greater funds for programs for women, lower castes and tribes and India’s rural poor." Women's rights activists are split on the outcomes of this situation. Some believe that this 10% increase in financial support from the government is "peanuts" in comparison to the increasing problem that is violence involving women, while others "think it is extremely encouraging." To those who do not feel it is enough, feel that their demands were not met, they hoped that the increase in spending would assist in the " implementation of laws protecting women, greater safety in public transport, improved sanitation, the rehabilitation of victims of violence and an allocation of resources for the creation of jobs for women."
Following these very publicized stories in India, I am pleased to see that there are improvements, while small, in countries that have historically suppressed women. However, I so see the issues with the delegation of the funds. Whether the funds are in surplus or sparse, it is very important to put the money toward the implementation and enforcement of the new laws regarding women. This may be the first step in a very long process to benefit women in India, but it is a step in the right direction.
http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/indias-budget-targets-women/
Caroline Dawkins
3/5/2013
10:09
No comments:
Post a Comment