Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa has said that the useful suggestion to open gender budget cell in departments will be implemented to further strengthen women’s empowerment.
He was addressing the concluding session of a one-day symposium at the Academy of Administration here on Tuesday. It was held under the aegis of Women’s Empowerment Directorate and UN Women.
DeSa said that cooperation of Academy of Administration will be sought for gender budget-related training and capacity building. A committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary will be constituted for regular review of gender budgeting. The Chief Secretary expressed happiness over the fact that 25 departments have adopted gender budgeting arrangements.
He said the other departments should also become alert and more active in this direction and work should be done speedily to increase gender budgeting from existing 28 per cent. The Chief Secretary gave a patient hearing to suggestions put forth in three sessions and assured implementation on them.
Commissioner Women’s Empowerment Kalpana Shrivastava informed that other states have regarded Madhya Pradesh’s initiative for gender budgeting as laudable. Giving an account of actions taken so far, she hoped that gender budgeting system will be strengthened further with participation of officers of the ranks of Principal Secretary and Secretary in the symposium.
Programme Officer UN Women for India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri lanka Bhumika Jhamb, Secretary Finance Manish Rastogi, Mridul Apen, former member of Centre for Development Studies, Kerala also participated in the symposium. Advisor to State Planning Commission Rajendra Mishra, Principal Secretary Urban Administration and Development SN Mishra were also present on the occasion. Sanjay Shrivastava conducted the function.