10 things Women Should Expect from #Budget2015: Expert Speak

The Union Budget for this year will be out tomorrow on 28th February, 2015. With the new Government in power, expectations are high and every individual, right from financial experts to small business owners to students are glued in to know how the Budget will impact them.

JaagoRe took this opportunity to explore what is being done to improve the status of women in India and how far we need to go to achieve equality for women.

We invited IndiaSpend, the first data journalism initiative to share their findings and opinions with us for a live twitter chat.

Here are excerpts from the chat:

Do you expect #Budget2015 to have provisions focused on women? #WomenBudget2015 #JaagoRe @IndiaSpend

— Jaago Re (@JaagoRe) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe Yes, last year, allocation to women and child development was Rs 21,193.88 crore; overall allocation for women was Rs 98,030 crore.

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

The Homemaker: Does her work count in any way in the Union Budget?

.@IndiaSpend Are provisions generally made for homemakers in budget plans? #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015

— Jaago Re (@JaagoRe) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe Union budget makes no special provisions for homemakers. #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

.@IndiaSpend Are measures taken to focus on homemakers' financial development apart from giving out subsidies? #WomenBudget2015 #JaagoRe

— Jaago Re (@JaagoRe) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe once again, nothing specific is given to homemakers in general apart from subsidies. #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

.@indiaspend Do you think the work by homemakers could be counted as a contribution to overall GDP? #WomenBudget2015 #JaagoRe

— Jaago Re (@JaagoRe) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe No, in fact its not even counted as unpaid labour. #WomenBudget2015 #Budget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

Working Mothers: Do they deserve a fair share from the Union Budget?

Scandinavia & Ireland have childcare benefits fr working moms. Are any provisions mde fr working moms in India? @IndiaSpend #WomenBudget2015

— Jaago Re (@JaagoRe) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe Yes, ministry of women and child development has creche schemes for working mothers. #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme provides day care for children of working mothers. 1/2 #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe Allocation towards scheme in 2011-12 was Rs 49 crore; 23,785 creches were built and there were 594,625 beneficiaries. #Budget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

The 1000 crore Nirbhaya fund: How is it being used?

.@IndiaSpend What has been done so far with the 1000 cr Nirbhaya fund? #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015 #JaagoRe

— Jaago Re (@JaagoRe) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe #NirbhayaFund: allocation of Rs 321.69 crore from Home Min. for women’s safety. 1/2 #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe #NirbhayaFund: Women’s safety project covers 114 cities including 41 highly crime-prone districts. 2/2 #Budget2015 #WomenBudget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

Key areas Budget 2015 needs to focus for women's upliftment in India

.@IndiaSpend What are the areas that have scope for improvement for women as far as #Budget2015 is concerned? #WomenBudget2015 #Jaagore

— Jaago Re (@JaagoRe) February 27, 2015

@JaagoRe Improvement can be in education, safety, sanitation which can increase participation of women in labour force. #Budget2015

— IndiaSpend (@IndiaSpend) February 27, 2015

Budget 2015: Will it make it or break it for women?

Today we are still not living in a country where women feel are free of fear. Education, crime, safety, sanitation, financial security for women among others, are some important areas that need attention of the Government. Will the Government take the opportunity and let #Budget2015 empower women in India? Share your views with us. Please join the conversation on www.facebook.com/jaagore and https://twitter.com/JaagoRe

Disclaimer:

Views expressed here are of the individuals alone and do not necessarily represent that of the brand.