Parliamentary panel gives importance to gender responsiveness in budget

KATHMANDU: The Women and Social Committee (WSC) under the House of Representatives (HoR) has directed the ministries concerned to give importance to gender responsiveness in the policies and programmes, and budget for the new fiscal year 2022/23. In the meeting, WSC president Niru Devi Pal directed so arguing that it was a budget that worked for every gender by ensuring gender-equitable distribution of resources and by contributing equal opportunities for all WSC drawing the attention of all provincial governments through National Planning Commission (NPC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration on the issues, instructed the National Women Commission and Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens for coordinating the effort to achieve gender responsiveness in the upcoming policies and programmes, and budget. Moreover, WSC directed the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen and Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to implement the policies and programmes that encouraged the use of silicone menstrual cups as the best alternative to the conventional sanitary pads for women to use during monthly period. WSC President Pal informed that the committee asked the authority concerned to reconsider tariffs on the import of sanitary pads and silicon cups. "The Committee directs the authorities concerned for effective implementation of the budget allocated for advancement of women, prioritising programmes that ensure rights for the sexually marginalised communities, reduces gender-based violence and minimises maternity and child mortality rate." During the meeting, NPC vice-chairperson Dr Biswo Nath Poudel shared that the commission aimed to implement free distribution of sanitary pads and build public toilets for all genders. Likewise, National Women Commission's Chairperson Kamala Parajuli stressed the need to allocate budget for women, children and senior citizens rather than for development works. Attendees in the meeting such as parliamentarian Narayan Khatiwada, Durga BK and Thammaya Thapa viewed that women's related issues should be prioritised while allocating budget. By RSS READ ALSO:

• Protest against imposition of luxury tax on menstrual products, tampons
• What women leaders in corporate sector say to encourage women
• Nepali businesses can improve MHM at workplaces while also promoting inclusive growth: study