Historic Budget: Over Rs 3 Lakh Crore Allocated for Women-Led Development in India

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Union Budget 2024-25, allocating over Rs 3 lakh crore for women and girls-centric schemes, emphasizing women's role in economic development. Key initiatives include working women hostels, creches, and women-specific skilling programs. Despite this investment, some organizations criticize the neglect of health, education, and social empowerment sectors.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Union Budget 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha, committing over Rs 3 lakh crore for schemes benefitting women and girls. This allocation underscores the government's dedication to bolstering women's participation in economic development.

The budget highlights include the establishment of working women hostels and creches, aimed at improving work-home balance and supporting working mothers. Additionally, women-specific skilling programs have been introduced, reflecting a notable 24% rise in female workforce participation in Q2FY24.

While the Ministry of Women and Child Development saw a budget increase to Rs 26,092 crore, organizations like the Population Foundation of India criticized the virtual neglect of health, education, and social empowerment investments. Despite these criticisms, the budget's focus remains on women’s economic empowerment.