It’s budget season again! Grab your coffee ☕ and let’s dive into what this year’s budget brings for women and overall welfare.

As PM Modi continues his third term and Nirmala Sitharaman presents another budget, the promise of “women empowerment” is in the spotlight. But does this budget truly empower women? Let’s explore! 🌟

Key Concerns for Women:

• Gender-Wage Gap: The silent financial barrier that limits our earning potential. 📉

• Support for Working Moms: Helping career moms excel both at home and work. 👩‍👧‍👦

• Tax Benefits: Good tax policies can significantly improve our financial health. 💰

• Education and Health: Essential areas that need focused attention. 📚🏥

Budget Highlights for Women:

1. Women-Led Development: The BJP-led NDA government has allocated over ₹3 lakh crore for promoting women-led development and schemes benefiting girls and women. This includes building hostels and establishing crèches for professional working women to increase workforce participation. 🏢👩‍💼

2. Education Loans: Provision for financial support with education loans up to ₹10 lakh for Indian universities. 🎓💸

3. Stamp Duty Reduction: The Finance Minister urged state governments to reduce stamp duty charges for properties purchased by women. This reform will be part of urban development schemes. 🏡💼

“We will encourage states which continue to charge high stamp duty to moderate the rates for all and also consider further lowering duties for properties purchased by women. This reform will be made an essential component of urban development schemes,” said Nirmala Sitharaman.

4. Women’s Safety: The budget allocation for the Nirbhaya Fund has been doubled from ₹100 crore in FY 2024 to ₹200 crore in FY 2025. The total budget for all women’s safety schemes stands at ₹1,105 crore. 🚨🛡️

5. Tax Benefits: For those in the highest tax bracket (30%) with a taxable income of ₹15 lakh or higher, the increased standard deduction limit will result in savings of ₹7,500. Rationalization of tax rates will lead to additional savings of ₹10,000, totaling ₹17,500. This move is expected to benefit four crore people. 📊💵

6. Support for Working Women: The budget includes plans for hostels for working women and crèches to help them balance work and home responsibilities. There will also be women-specific skilling programs and initiatives to promote market access for women-led enterprises. 🏢🧸📈

These announcements come as India continues to add women to its workforce. Gender-wise payroll data for May 2024 shows a 12.1% increase in new female members compared to May 2023. Net female member addition during the month was 17.2% higher than in May 2023, indicating a broader shift towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce. 📈👩‍🔧

Final Thoughts

While the budget promises significant support for women, its real impact will depend on effective implementation and how these measures translate into tangible benefits for women across India. Let’s hope these initiatives pave the way for a more empowered and financially secure future for all women! 💪🌸