Kohima | August 17 : Nagaland, perhaps become the first state in India to bring out a Gender Budgeting Manuel, which was released by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio during Independence Day here Monday.
Naga women constitute 47.62% of the total Naga population.
Gender Budgeting Manual is an attempt to ensure gender equality and justice in programmes implemented at the local level with the mandate of the local government and aims to ensure that the outcomes of all processes and programmes of local governance are shared equitably between men and women.
The Manual, a copy which made available to The Morung Express said that gender planning is the recognition of social and gender inequalities and the formation of appropriate development approaches, processes and activities in developmental plans to address inequalities, thereby helping in improving the status of women.
It helps to expose, analyze and resolve the inequalities existing in social, economic, cultural, legal and family structures and services to initiate a process of change to address such inequalities in structures and processes.
Gender Budgeting Manual, an in-house production by the state’s department of planning & coordination and supported by the Planning Commission, Government of India and United Nations Development Programme, gave general guidance, methodology and tools which can be adopted or modified based on the diverse experiences, needs and levels of knowledge of those who use it.
Additional Chief Secretary & Commissioner, Nagaland, Banuo Z. Jamir IAS, who heads Task Force Team on Gender Budgeting, said that the Manual was designed to explain the meaning of ‘Gender Budgeting’, and how to go about planning the use of funds and resources, so that there is equitable coverage of requirements of both the genders.
Jamir pointed out that there is a general misconception about the programmes under various departments which are designed for women. She however said that these programmes are primarily targeted towards promotion of women empowerment and hoped that the manual will provide a clearer understanding of Gender Budgeting and will become the expected norm in the state.
The manual states that till 1995, the term ‘gender’ indicated ‘women’ only. It further explains that ‘gender’ is different from the biological differences between male and female and is all about relationships between ‘men’ and ‘women’. In the traditional male-female relationship, women are viewed as generally exploited, suppressed and oppressed and it therefore becomes pertinent to resolve this gender inequality. “If the goal is gender equity, change should happen to both men and women. It is the responsibility of all to achieve a gender equitable society, which will eventually go a long way in benefiting both men and women”.
Gender Budgeting Manual gives a brief summary of the conditions and status of women in Nagaland and highlighted the need for gender planning while also dwelling on the basic concepts relating to gender.
The manual is intended for elected representatives, policy makers, administrators, decision makers, officials, technical experts, academicians and all those who are not only involved but are also closely associated with the process of planning and implementation at various levels. The manual also contains tools and indicators to help in gender based planning and implementation of programmes and plans across the various departments.
Other members of the Task Force Team for Gender Budgeting Manual includes Menukhol John, Visiele Kezo, Metsubo Jamir, Lithrongla Chishi, Limasenla Jamir, Anungla Aier, Neilavou Keditsu and Aolemla Jamir.
