What do we understand by gender-budgeting initiatives?

12/05/25

Bal Raksha Bharat Blogs

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Gender budgeting is a specific approach within public finance that examines government budgets to see how they differently affect women, men, girls, and boys. It applies a gender perspective throughout the entire budgeting process; from initial planning and formulation to implementation, monitoring, and auditing, used to examine how government policies and spending decisions may impact genders differently. This is because there is indeed a gendered perspective in how societal norms, economic gaps, and varying social roles influence the role of finance. By identifying and highlighting these impacts, policy adjustments can help achieve greater fairness and efficient resource use.

Why is gender budgeting implemented?

Gender budgeting is implemented because traditional budget processes often fail to consider the distinct needs of different genders. For example, public funds for infrastructure might favour large projects that predominantly benefit men’s employment or accessibility while neglecting smaller-scale projects—like community water sources or local markets—that often have a greater positive impact on women. In healthcare budgeting, funds might mainly target general hospitals without adequately considering specific reproductive health services or women’s heavier caregiving responsibilities. Similarly, education budgets might succeed in increasing overall enrolment but could overlook underlying differences in course choices, completion rates, and safety within educational institutions that affect girls and boys differently.

Gender budgeting keeps in mind that there are gendered implications of all public spending and taxation so that spending aligns with gender equality goals and increases the overall effectiveness and equity of public policies. It helps governments determine whether their budgets reinforce existing gender gaps, help narrow them or ignore them entirely.

Understanding its implementation

Assessments help identify who benefits from public expenditure, broken down by gender and factors like location or income. The analysis of public expenditure helps determine how government spending is distributed across different groups. Additionally, gender budget statements, included in official budgeting documents, explain how spending aligns with gender equality objectives. Effective implementation needs strong political support, institutional arrangements (such as dedicated gender units in finance and line ministries), skilled personnel, and collaboration with civil society groups and gender specialists.

Globally, gender budgeting practices vary greatly. Many countries across different regions and economic contexts have experimented with or officially adopted gender budgeting, often driven by national policies, civil society pressure, or recommendations from international bodies. In some places, civil society organisations lead initiatives focused primarily on examining budget transparency from a gender viewpoint.

Read Also: What are The Main Factors Responsible For Gender Inequality in India?

Gender budgeting in India

Gender budgeting involves assessing government budgets through a gender perspective, aiming to ensure equitable distribution of public resources between men and women. In India, gender budgeting has become a practical tool for addressing gender disparities by influencing resource allocation in sectors such as education, health, employment, and social welfare.

One of the main benefits of gender budgeting in India is its capacity to make visible the specific needs and requirements of women and girls, which might otherwise be overlooked in traditional budgeting processes. By explicitly acknowledging these needs, governments can better align their fiscal policies with the goals of gender equality. Gender budgeting also helps to measure the impact of public spending on women’s lives, ensuring that resources contribute effectively to enhancing their socio-economic status.

Another advantage of gender budgeting is its role in increasing accountability. It prompts government departments and institutions to examine their programmes and initiatives critically, ensuring these align with broader gender equity objectives. By incorporating clear gender-related targets into budgetary processes, it becomes possible to monitor progress and evaluate effectiveness more transparently. This accountability can help improve the efficiency and responsiveness of public policies concerning women’s development.

Role of NGOs

Bal Raksha Bharat, a child protection NGO, promotes gender-equitable resource allocation by advocating for and supporting the practical implementation of gender budgeting at multiple levels of governance. Additionally, Bal Raksha Bharat works directly with communities to strengthen their understanding of how resource allocation decisions impact women and girls. Through community engagement and child education donation, the organisation empowers individuals to articulate their needs and demand accountability from local and state authorities. By facilitating dialogue between community members and policymakers, Bal Raksha Bharat encourages the greater consideration of women’s voices.

Anikait Suri