Ensure more generous gender budgeting: Women's group to Modi government

NEW DELHI: Seeking more "generous gender budgeting", members of a women's group have urged the Narendra Modi government to ensure, among others, the setting up of women's police chowkies and allocation of an additional Rs 1,000 crore for the Nirbhaya fund.

"An additional Rs 1,000 crore for the Nirbhaya Fund in 2014-15 should be allocated... and a transparent mechanism followed for its due disbursement," the Assocham Ladies League (ALL) said in its pre-budget wish list to the Finance Minister.

Feeling that it should proactively participate in the agenda-setting for the nation, the group also sought tax benefits on property.

It also called for tax benefits for companies that hire a minimum of 100 college students every year as interns and sought allocation for skill development programmes for working women so that they are encouraged to start small businesses.

Stressing on the issue of women's safety, ALL said that steps like incentivising construction of toilets for girls in schools and opening of women's hostels should be encouraged.

It also spoke of the need for women's police chowkies and deployment of women commandos on trains and in public places.