New Delhi: Recent crime against women reflected in UPA-II government's last Budget, with Finance Minister P Chidambaram announcing an all-women public sector bank and unveiling a slew of gender sensitive initiatives.
In Budget for 2013-14, Chidambaram proposed setting up a bank which will predominately employ and lend to women. Men can, however, deposit in the bank.
"We think women get a raw deal from many of our institutions including public sector banks. Any number of people have told me clearly there is a bias to lend to men rather to women," he said.
"Therefore, we believe that - a public sector for women would be a good institutions that will address issues that is usually ignored by banks," he said.
Besides, he has also proposed to Nirbhaya Fund as a tribute to the 23-year-old Delhi gangrape victim. Nirbhaya (fearless) was the pseudonym given to the victim to hide her actual identity.
"As an earnest of our commitment to these objectives, I propose to set up a fund - let us call it the Nirbhaya Fund - and government will contribute Rs 1,000 crore," he said.
"We have a collective responsibility to ensure dignity and safety of women. Recent incidents have cast a long, dark shadow on our liberal and progressive credentials," he said.
"Recent incidents have cast a long, dark shadow on our liberal and progressive credentials. As more women enter public space - for education or work or access to services of leisure - there are more reports of violence against them," Chidambaram said.
Noting that all have a collective responsibility to ensure dignity and safety of women, the Minister said, "We stand in solidarity with our girl children and women. And we pledge to do everything possible to empower them and to keep them safe and secure."
"What I have said...is my fundamental belief and my party support fully on that," he said.
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