Tk 2,151 crore for women and children

An allocation of Taka 2,151 crore has been made in the budget proposed for 2016-17 fiscal year for Women and Children Affairs Ministry for ensuring further development and protecting rights of the country's womenfolk and children. 

The allocation in the proposed budget is Taka 390 crore more than the revised budget of 2015-16 fiscal year, that was Taka 1,761 crore. The proposed budget of the fiscal 2015-16 for the ministry was Taka 1,679 crore.

Of the total Taka 2,151 crore, Taka 168 crore will be spent under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and Taka 1,983 crore under non-development sector. 

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith made the announcement while placing the budget for the new financial year before the Jatiya Sangsad today.

The minister said the government will continue its ongoing endeavour for increasing women participation in economic activities, creating social awareness and empowering women. 

"We are implementing a number of programmes on imparting training on different trades, providing micro-credit, establishing hostel-cum training centres and information centres, and operating day-care centres for children," he said. 

This year, the minister said the government is providing allowances to 1,20,000 lactating working mothers in 64 districts and garment sector. 

Mentioning that a 12-storied hostel for garment workers has been constructed, Muhith said oppressed women are receiving services from 60 one-stop crisis management cells located at 20 upazila complexes. 

Apart from garment sector, the minister said the government has also taken steps to create congenial working environment for other women and ensure their safety. 

Notable among these initiatives are construction of hostels for working women in different cities including Dhaka, implementation of multi-sectoral programmes to prevent oppression against women, establishment of DNA Screening Laboratory for DNA test in seven divisional medical college hospitals. 

"We would like to continue our initiatives such as provision of training on different trades, distribution of microcredit and priority-based rural and agricultural credit, and extension of 'Joyeeta' in order to widen the scope of skill development and self-employment opportunities," said the minister. 

Along with women, he said the government is giving emphasis on physical and mental development of the children. "Meanwhile, we have formulated the 'National Child Policy' and an integrated policy for infant's primary care and development," he added. 

During budget formulation in the last year, he said his ministry has published a report titled 'Thoughts on Child Budget' comprising the child related activities undertaken by five ministries. 

"This year, we are placing before the house a different report titled 'Blooming Children: Prosperous Bangladesh' incorporating allocations for child related activities in seven ministries or divisions," the minister said. 

Describing various government initiatives on children development, the minister said, "We are operating six child development centres at divisional level for ensuring physical and psychological development of destitute, orphan and street children."

Additionally, different programmes are in operation for child safety and security, he added. 

Muhith said according to different sources, around 15 to 20 lakh children of less than 14 years age are working as laborer in different activities. Most of them work for family businesses or in informal sector. Besides, institutions in formal sectors also employ child labour breaking the law, the minister observed. 

In order to prevent such activities, he said the government will undertake numbers of steps including a quick survey on child labour, some food will be provided to each child and Social initiatives will be undertaken to bring out these children from child labour and draw them towards education. 

Noting that an initiative has been taken to establish an academy for autistic children, the minister said proper emphasis is being given to the issue of physically challenged students in designing educational infrastructure.

Source: BSS.