Gender Responsive Budgeting (or Gender Budgeting) is drawing the attention of many in the policy community in India. But not everyone is familiar with this important strategy for promoting gender equality and empowerment of women.
The Union Government had adopted GRB in 2005, while more than 15 State Governments have formally adopted it over the last decade. Yet, there is a lot to be done in terms of the depth and effectiveness of GRB in the country. One the major lacunae in this sphere has been that most States do not have a vibrant accountability ecosystem around GRB.
How many academic and policy researchers, journalists, civil society leaders, and Members of the Legislative Assembly in a State are actually paying attention to what the State Government has reported / presented in its Gender Budget Statement (if it publishes one)?