Women empowerment and child development sector will receive an allocation of Tk 4,290 crore, for fiscal year 2022-2023 which was Tk 4,190 crore in outgoing fiscal year 2021-2022.

Proposing the allocation, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said they have given importance to five areas in the forthcoming budget to implement the strategic objectives of the government for women’s empowerment and child welfare.

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These include food assistance for vulnerable mothers (VGD) programmes, mother and child benefit programmes on life-cycle basis, child development centres and adolescent empowerment programmes, technical, vocational, income-generating and productive training for women and prevention of violence against women.

Regarding women empowerment, he said they will give importance to the skill development of young women, especially in professional and technical fields.

“We will consider on a priority basis activities such as adopting effective and robust institutional strategies for gender equality and women empowerment, allocating adequate funds and manpower to bring the gender issue into the mainstream and increasing skilled manpower in technology.”

“In continuation of the 7th Five Year Plan, we are implementing various activities for establishing a gender inclusive society and empowering women following the strategies worked out in the 8th Five Year Plan,” he said.

Besides, micro-credit activities are being carried out to improve the socio-economic condition of rural poor and helpless women for poverty alleviation and affording opportunities for self-employment. “Loan disbursement is going on in 488 upazilas of 64 districts on a revolving basis with the allotted funds,” said Kamal.

In child development, they are also giving importance in the forthcoming budget on providing essential healthcare, ensuring availability of food and nutrition, ensure access to education, training and development for the children.

Necessary steps will be taken to impart healthcare knowledge among adolescents. “We are taking into account the nutrition-sensitive approach and the priority of poor families including children in social security programmes,” he added.