The Chairperson of the Punjab State Women Commission, Mrs. Raj Lali Gill, has expressed her strong dissatisfaction with the Union Budget 2024 presented by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. During a media interaction on Wednesday in Chandigarh, Mrs. Gill remarked, “Nothing has been given to empower women in this budget.”
Chairperson Mrs. Gill emphasized that the budget fails to address the critical needs of women, providing no specific programs or financial support aimed at their empowerment. She highlighted that women were expecting initiatives to enhance their economic, social, and health status, but the budget did not meet these expectations.
Raj Lali Gill said that the Union Budget has completely ignored the plight of women. She further elaborated, “The promises made in this budget are just for show. By the time they are implemented, another budget will come.”
She also pointed out the absence of additional funds for One Stop Centres, which provide essential support services to women facing violence. The lack of increased funding for One Stop Centres is a clear indication of the government’s disregard for women’s safety and well-being.
On another major issue of employment, Mrs. Gill remarked, “The finance minister claimed that the central government is giving 2 crore jobs every year, but this budget does not reflect any concrete measures to support this claim.” She said that this budget is a party-saving budget.
Mrs. Gill called upon the central government to reconsider the budget and incorporate measures that would genuinely empower women and address their unique challenges. She urged the government to allocate substantial funds for women’s education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship to ensure their active participation in the nation’s development.
