A Decade of Gender Budgeting in Karnataka: A Preliminary Review

Abstract

Understanding the necessity of gendering fiscal policies is a relatively new area in public finance research, which is now gaining momentum. The importance of gender differential impacts of the budgetary process is the highlight of the argument here, while a gender-mainstreamed society is the anticipated outcome. Based on the State gender-budget data of Karnataka (2007–2019), this article is an attempt to revisit the decade-long history of this exercise in the State. On the one hand, it attempts to reveal the good deeds of the practice in the State, and on the other hand, it highlights the lack of ‘gender concerns’ in the process. Using a framework given by Das, Thakur, and Sikdar (2006, Report of the gender budgeting study for West Bengal. Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability), this study applies a descriptive approach to review the process and magnitude of gender budgeting in Karnataka. The review reveals that the priorities of Karnataka’s gender budgets remain within the umbrella of ‘welfare approach’ that caters to practical gender needs, despite its institutionalisation and experience for a decade.