BANGALORE: BJP National Spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman has demanded an audit into the spending of budgetary allocations for women by 33 government departments. Speaking at a seminar on ‘Economic Empowerment of Women’ organised by Karnataka State Women Development Corporation here on Monday, she accused the Central and State governments of not spending funds earmarked for the development and empowerment of women properly and completely.
She also urged the State government to provide sufficient funds for women’s development and empowerment in the forthcoming budget. She also laid emphasis on a gender budget.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister D V Sadananda said, “There are 1.4 lakh Stree Shakti groups in the State now and our aim this year is to reach 2 lakh. About `400 crore have been spent on the development of women in 2011-12.”
About 2,400 women were granted loans at an interest rate of 6 per cent and we are planning to issue loans at a lesser interest rate, he said.
Chairperson of the Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation Sarojini Bharadwaj said various plans implemented for strengthening the women in the State have been received well. “Other states are very keen to replicate our Success.”
Land for Marketing and Training Centre
When women requested Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda to grant land in the city for setting up a marketing and training centre for women, he readily agreed. He also agreed to hold pre-budget meetings with the women organisations so that their aspirations are reflected in the budget.