On the occasion of Women’s Day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government made a women-friendly announced in its Budget on Wednesday. The Government announced reduction in tax on sanitary napkins from 12.5 per cent to five per cent and increased the annual Budget of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) by three times amounting to Rs 20 crore for the DCW.
Underlining the Government’s concern for hygiene of women, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia made the announcement that sanitary napkins costing Rs 20 have been made tax free while the ones priced above will attract a reduced tax of five per cent.
“Budget for the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has increased by three times to Rs 20 crore. Sanitary napkins up to Rs 20 will be tax free. In case of their cost being above Rs 20, the Government proposes to reduce the tax rate from 12.5 per cent to just 5 per cent keeping in view the concern about hygiene of women,” Sisodia said in his Budget speech at the Delhi Assembly.
The Delhi Government runs “Kishori Yojana” for female students enrolled in Government schools under which sanitary napkins are provided free of cost. Around seven lakh girls studying in classes VI to XII avail this facility.
The Government had also roped in services of an NGO to impart lessons on menstruation to school girls and answer their queries and clear myths about the stigmas attached to the biological process.
DCW chief Swati Maliwal thanked the Government for recognising the need to strengthen the resources of the women’s body.
“First time in the Indian history has the women commission got Rs 20 core. Thanks to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia,” Maliwal said.
While women activists appreciated the Government’s move, they flagged the issue of women safety which continues to be their prime concern.
“It is appreciable that the government is investing in providing resources to bodies working for women but we also want it to focus on issues like women safety which continue to be unaddressed,” said Kamla Bhasin, founder member of Jagori, an NGO for women.
Ranjana Kumari, gender rights activist and Director of Centre for Social Research, said, “DCW getting enhanced budget allocation is worth appreciation but the government also needs to enhance the over-all budget allocation to the Women and Child development department.”