To bridge the gender disparity in the country better, gender responsive budgeting is being discussed in Thimphu. The gender responsive budgeting is a tool of allocating budgets adequately, by mainstreaming gender.
The National Commission for Women and Children’s Executive Director (NCWC), Phintsho Choeden, said gender responsive budgeting is about having a budget that is more responsive. “It is not about having additional budget. We have budgets allocated but what we want is people to look it in a more conscious manner and we want the budgets to be better translated looking at the genders in the society,” she said.
The works and human settlement minister, Yeshey Zimba, said despite the efforts put in by the government to bridge the gender gaps, gender discrepancy still exist. He added that even though Bhutan has been ranked as the happiest country in the world, the Gross National Happiness index states that Bhutanese women are less happy. “We have to work together and create a conducive environment for our women in all aspects of the society. If male and female can contribute equally towards the society I believe we can built a better society together.”
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Claire Van der Vaeren, said in the field of tertiary education and unemployment rate, the female ratio still stands more compared to the male ratio. “These areas should be addressed by the gender responsive budgeting.”
Phintsho Choeden said the midterm review of the 10th Five Year Plan reflects some gender gap. She says if gender responsive budgeting is implemented during the 11th Five Year Plan, more women will be benefited. She also added just like in other countries she is hoping that the Ministry of Finance will take a lead role in gender responsive budgeting.
The NCWC started working towards gender responsive budgeting since 2010.
