Gender budget cells to be opened in departments
Bhopal: Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa has said that the useful suggestion to open gender budget cell in departments will be implemented to further strengthen women’s empowerment. He was addressing the concluding session of a one-day symposium at RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration here today. It was held under the aegis of Women’s Empowerment Directorate and UN Women.
Chief Secretary Shri de Sa said that cooperation of Academy of Administration will be sought for gender budget-related training and capacity building. A committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary will be constituted for regular review of gender budgeting. The Chief Secretary expressed happiness over the fact that 25 departments have adopted gender budgeting arrangements. He said the other departments should also become alert and more active in this direction and work should be done speedily to increase gender budgeting from existing 28 percent. The Chief Secretary gave a patient hearing to suggestions put forth in 3 sessions and assured implementation on them.
Commissioner Women’s Empowerment Smt. Kalpana Shrivastava informed that other states have regarded Madhya Pradesh’s initiative for gender budgeting as laudable. Giving an account of actions taken so far, she hoped that gender budgeting system will be strengthened further with participation of officers of the ranks of Principal Secretary and Secretary in the symposium.
Programme Officer UN Women for India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka Sushri Bhumika Jhamb, Secretary Finance Shri Manish Rastogi, Dr. Mridul Apen, former member of Centre for Development Studies, Kerala also participated in the symposium. Advisor to State Planning Commission Shri Rajendra Mishra, Principal Secretary Urban Administration and Development Shri S.N. Mishra were also present on the occasion. Shri Sanjay Shrivastava conducted the function.
