Budget to be initiated from district level, says Muhith

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FE Report
Finance Minster AMA Muhith Tuesday said the preparatory works of the national budget would be initiated from the district level from financial year 2011 in a move to decentralise the preparation process.
"I had intentions to start the process from now. But as it will take some time to prepare, we will undertake some pilot projects in selected districts from the financial year 2011," he said.
The finance minister told this while replying to the speakers who demanded strengthening of the local government at a workshop in the capital Tuesday.
Local development organisation, Unnayan Shamannay, organised the workshop titled "Gender budgeting in Bangladesh: Budget 2009-10" with its chief Atiur Rahman in the chair.
AMA Muhith said an "integrated national budget" will be developed within their five-year tenure by merging the separate revenue and development budgets into one.
Explaining the results of limitations in the existing non-integrated budget, he said: "There are some schools but not adequate teachers, there are some hospitals but not enough doctors."
Unveiling his budget plan, he said it would be more time-bound to replace the separate revenue and development expenditures by three segments-- salary, service and infrastructure expenditures - in the integrated budget.
The finance minister said: "Our public investment size is very small compared to other countries of the world. It is difficult to achieve much with this budget except giving some directions to the nation."
About the gender budgeting, he said the contribution of household works of the women to the overall gross domestic product (GDP) is not reflected. "The household contribution in the agriculture is also not considered during GDP calculation."
"Bangladesh is still a male-dominated country. There has been many changes over the years but our mindset towards the women has not improved enough," he said urging people to change their mindset.
The finance minister said female representation in the newly formed taskforce on the global financial meltdown has been missed.