The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Different organisations yesterday urged the government to clarify its direct and indirect expenditure in the proposed national budget relating to gender.

Addressing a joint press conference they pointed out that the budget lacks clarification on expenditure on different heads for women.

They suggested that the government should give break-up of expenditure on girls, children and women.

The press conference on "gender analysis in the proposed budget" at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity was jointly organised by Steps Towards Development, Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh Mahila Parished and Bangladesh Nari Pragoti Sangha in cooperation with UNIFEM-Bangladesh, ActionAid-Bangladesh and Canadian CIDA.

Eminent Economist Prof Dr Atiur Rahman, Chairman, Unnayan Somonay, Ranjan Karmakar, Executive Director, Steps Towards Development, Women leader Rokaya Kabir of Nari Pragoti Songha, Nigar Sultana of ActionAid, Humaira Haque of Mahila Parished, among others, addressed the press conference.

They urged the government not to appoint male teacher under 60 percent female quota of the primary schools on plea of lack of qualified female candidates.

Dr Atiur Rahman said the government should fulfil 60 per cent female quota by increasing their skill and quality through training programme.

He also said female enrolment in the tertiary and vocational/technical education is one-third of the total students and this should be increased.

Long-term gender goals should be set and in this regard prioritisation process should be aimed at achieving the broader goals, he suggested.

He also called for taking steps to protect the rights of the female labourers in the manufacturing industry.

Agricultural activities of womenfolk should be integrated into extension programme to ensure their food security, he mentioned.

Ranjan Karmakar said they expected the caretaker government would place long-term visionary budget in the perspective of women rights, but the budget did not fulfil our expectation.

Rokeya Kabir said allocation for the women in the budget is not properly utilised in most cases adding that they want gender responsive budget.