HimVani
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu said that gender sensitive policies and programmes were effective means to achieve gender balance in the society and added that gender equality could lead to balanced development of the state. She was inaugurating the two day long state level workshop on Gender Budgeting organised by the Social Justice and Empowerment department here today.
Rajwant Sandhu directed the planning department to reflect gender budgeting in the Annual Plan and added that departments should also focus upon these issues in their sectoral plans. She said that budget was the reflection of priorities of the society as well as government and added that needs of both men and women of different age groups should be addressed in a Gender Responsive Budget. In addition, she said that gender responsive budgeting could lead to wise policy formulation and their effective implementation ensuring the welfare of all sections of the society. Gender budgeting was an ongoing process of keeping a gender perspective in formulation of policies, programmes and their implementation and review.
Chief Secretary stressed upon prioritising vital sectors like water and sanitation, agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, forestry, health and education, proper planning and allocation of adequate funds for addressing the concerns and needs of both the genders. She said that gender budgeting was not about focusing upon women issues alone and added that it aimed balanced representation to all. She said that gender issues should be brought into the mainstream and added that PRIs representatives should be sensitised about these by incorporating the related issues in their training schedules.
