Budget support to execute women dev policy urged

Women leaders Wednesday urged the government for keeping adequate budget allocation to implement National Women Development Policy 2011 which is in line with the millennium development goals (MDGs). The country's population has become more than double over the last 40 years and 50 per cent of which are women and 87 per cent poor and which has created immense pressure on agricultural land, environment, roads, health, education, water, employment and security, they observed. They stressed that according to sub-clauses 34.3, 21.1, 23.9 and 23.10 in the National Women Development Policy (NWDP) 2011, separate allocation in the budget is needed to ensure general healthcare of women, reduce maternal mortality rate, achieve equal participation of women in technical and higher education and labour market and acknowledgement of contribution of informal sector labour of women in the economy. Their demand came at a press conference on 'Necessary steps to be taken in the budget to implement National Women Development Policy 2011' organised by Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha (BNPS) at the National Press Club in the city. BNPS Deputy Director Shahnaz Sumi read out the statement on the occasion with its Executive Director Rokeya Kabir in the chair. BNPS Vice-President Kazi Madina, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Senior Research Fellow Dr Pratima Paul Majumder, Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB) Executive Member Safina Lohani and BNPS Director Omar Tarek were also present on the occasion. In the statement Shanaz Sumi said it's urgent to reduce the reproductive burden on women in her best time of life between 15 to 50 years if the target to empower women is to be achieved as per the policy. "Rather, women should be involved in social and economic activities with an aim to be self-reliant instead of giving birth to child," she added. She also said without skill and capacity women cannot enter the labour market though it's included in the MDGs. Moreover, the 15 per cent quota in government job is still far away from being filled up. Rokeya Kabir said though female participation in primary education has increased, the rate of drop-outs at the higher education is alarming. "The goal of achieving equal share in higher education as per the MDGs will be possible if the 21.1 sub-clause of the NWDP is implemented," she added. The speakers said to make visible the contribution of informal sector labour of women in the NWDP is a revolutionary step. "If women's contribution is acknowledged formally, it will be possible to ensure equal opportunity for female farmers in getting agri inputs, fertiliser, farmers' card and loan," the veteran women leader said. - FE Report