Budget 2013: What's in it for women?

NEW DELHI: Budget 2013: What's in it for women?

Finance Minister, P.Chidambaram has been generous in budget 2013 announcing a few measures aimed specifically at this segment. The key announcements that will impact women by the budget are –

1) All women’s bank, to be served by women bankers to women citizens to be set up by a state run. Government to infuse an initial capital of Rs 1000 crore to set up the country’s first women bank.

Impact: Should boost credit and channelise savings from women especially in the hinterland and other smaller towns and cities given the comfort of dealing with

2) In order to ensure better safety for women citizens, the Government has proposed to set up ‘ Nirbhaya Fund’- named after the brave-heart who lost her life in the national capital recently. The Budget has allocated Rs 1000 crore as an initial investment in the fund.

Impact: Will encourage women to work in jobs and locations which require greater security - boosting output and adding to incomes

3) The limit for duty free import of gold increased to Rs 1 lakh for women citizens. For men, the limit for duty free gold imports increased to Rs 50,000.