Finance Minister Allocates NPR 2.27 Billion for Women, Children, Gender, and Sexual Minorities in FY 2083/84 Budget

Kathmandu. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has allocated a total of NPR 2.27 billion for the areas of women, children, gender, and sexual minorities for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84. Presenting the budget statement in a joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Friday, he informed that a separate NPR 120 billion has been allocated for social security.

Through the budget, the government has adopted a policy to increase investment focused on Dalits in an integrated manner, including activities for the conservation of traditional skills, income generation, and technology upgrading of the Dalit community. Under this, NPR 3 billion has been allocated solely for the nutritional support of Dalit children under five years of age across the country.

The budget mentions honoring the martyrs of the Gen Z movement and ensuring respectable financial assistance for the families of martyrs. The budget statement includes provisions for free health treatment for the injured in the movement, monthly allowances based on the condition of the injured, and the operation of entrepreneurship development programs.

Similarly, it has been announced that physical structures, digital technologies, websites, and software to be constructed by government offices will be developed in a format that is usable by persons with all types of disabilities. The government has put forward a plan to establish disability rehabilitation centers in all provinces and operate model residential schools with infrastructure targeting children with autism. The budget mentions bringing gig workers engaged in the currently popular gig economy into the formal labor and social security framework.

Announcing the formulation of an integrated bill on gender-based violence prevention, Finance Minister Wagle stated that street children and the elderly will be reunited with their families and socially rehabilitated in collaboration with provincial and local governments. Under this plan, Nepal will be declared a street child-free nation, as included in the budget.

A national campaign against untouchability and discrimination will be launched to build an egalitarian, civilized, and cultured society. The government is preparing to conduct social transformation campaigns at all three levels to end social evils such as child labor, gender-based violence, sexual abuse, Chhaupadi, menstrual discrimination, and child marriage.

Social integration programs will be conducted for the dignified livelihood of the gender and sexual minority community, and livelihood improvement programs will be conducted at the local level for women's entrepreneurship development, as mentioned in the budget statement.

NPR 310 million has been allocated for the infrastructure and management of juvenile correction homes. In addition, Finance Minister Wagle informed that necessary funds have also been allocated for the air rescue of pregnant and lactating mothers and newborns at risk of death in remote areas.