More allocation sought for women empowerment

The government should enhance budgetary allocation for women to support their empowerment, speakers said at a seminar in Dhaka yesterday.
They also urged the government to conduct a research to weigh the outcomes of the government-initiated projects for women empowerment and their welfare.
"Women require more allocation in the sectors of environment and climate change, job creation and poverty alleviation, agriculture, and industries," said Fahmida Khatun, additional director of Centre for Policy Dialogue.
In her keynote speech, Fahmida said although allocation for women in some areas, such as social welfare, is comparatively high, they are not the decision makers in those areas.
She urged the government to launch separate employment schemes for the women who are the only earning members of their families, and make a separate allocation in the upcoming budget for the purpose.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (a women's platform) organised the seminar on specific allocation for women in the upcoming budget and the roadmap to implement the allocation.
Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, chairman of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, a research organisation, said women's involvement in the country's total manufacturing process is still very low.
He advocated more involvement of women in the national economic activities for their empowerment.
Farashuddin also said most of the dropouts at the secondary and higher secondary levels are girls although their enrolment is high at primary and secondary levels.
Mustafa K Mujeri, director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said the country would not develop fast if the division between men and women is not minimised.
Sanjida Khanom, a lawmaker, said she would propose that the government allocate 50 percent of the total allocation of the education sector for women. She also said their allocation in the farm sector should increase.
Shahanaz Begum, a garment worker, said it is almost impossible to make ends meet with Tk 1,000 salary per month.
Presided over by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanom, the seminar was also attended by the organisation’s General Secretary Maleka Banu, ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir and lawmaker Farida Rahman.