Introduction
Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) has emerged as a vital tool in addressing gender disparities, by embedding gender considerations into fiscal policies and transforming resource allocation for women-centric programs. Introduced in India in 2005-06, GRB marked a shift from the “Women in Development” approach to a broader “Gender and Development” perspective. The National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) developed analytical tools to incorporate gender commitments into budgetary planning, making GRB a central aspect of the government’s fiscal strategy (Khullar, 2024).
Despite this progress, deep-rooted patriarchal norms continue to limit women’s full political participation, especially in households where male members dominate decision-making (Behera & Patra, 2023). However, social shifts—such as increased education, expanded media exposure, and male migration—have empowered women to take on roles traditionally held by men, thereby engaging more actively in political processes (Kumar, 2024). Initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have fostered greater political awareness among women, challenging entrenched norms (Kapoor & Ravi, 2014). The self-empowerment hypothesis suggests that, as literacy and media access improve, women’s political participation increases, regardless of economic independence (Sharma, 2024). While welfare schemes play a crucial role in mobilising female voters, addressing societal barriers through education and awareness remains essential for ensuring sustained and meaningful political engagement.
In recent years, gender budgeting has also become a strategic political instrument, as women have emerged as a critical voting bloc. Political parties increasingly recognise this and have centred their electoral strategies around women-focused welfare schemes, reflecting the growing political clout of female voters. This evolving dynamic underscores the importance of moving beyond symbolic gestures to creating impactful programs that genuinely empower women and foster long-term gender equity.
Gender Budgeting as a Political Strategy: Case Study Examples
Gender budgeting has emerged as a pivotal political strategy in India, reflecting a strategic recognition of the growing influence of female voters in determining electoral outcomes. Women constitute 48.9% of the electorate, and their increasing voter turnout highlights their critical role in shaping election results (Mint, 2024). Political parties across the country have responded to this demographic shift by designing and implementing welfare programs that address women’s specific social and economic needs. These welfare schemes are not merely tools of public service delivery but meticulously crafted strategies aimed at cultivating political loyalty among female voters. Gender-responsive budgeting has therefore evolved into a key electoral strategy, with political parties deploying it to secure female voter support and gain a competitive edge.
Tamil Nadu provides a significant example of how gender-centric welfare policies can transform political dynamics. The state’s long-standing tradition of targeting women through welfare schemes such as Amma Unavagam (subsidised food canteens), Amma Maternity Nutrition Kits, has had a profound impact on improving maternal and child health, as well as nutritional outcomes (Krishnan & Leela). These grassroots-level interventions have resonated deeply with rural women, leading to increased participation in governance structures and high female voter turnout. Tamil Nadu’s political parties, particularly the AIADMK, have strategically capitalised on the popularity of these schemes to secure female voters. The loyalty of these voters has remained consistent across election cycles, illustrating how well-targeted welfare policies can translate into electoral success (Tamilarasu & Tamilarasu, 2024).
In Madhya Pradesh, the Ladli Laxmi Yojana stands as an exemplary model of how gender budgeting has been utilised to engage female voters. Launched in 2007, this scheme provides financial incentives to families for educating their daughters, challenging deeply ingrained patriarchal preferences for male children. The program has significantly increased school enrollment rates for girls and is regarded as a transformative social intervention. Politically, the scheme became a central feature of the BJP’s campaign during the 2018 state elections, where it was effectively used to garner support from rural women (Behera & Patra, 2023). By linking financial empowerment to educational outcomes, the BJP not only improved the status of girls in Madhya Pradesh but also solidified its political base among women, demonstrating how welfare policies can be wielded as powerful electoral tools.
Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also embraced gender-responsive budgeting, particularly through its 2019 initiative offering free public transport to women. This policy was designed to remove financial barriers to women’s mobility, enhancing their access to education and employment opportunities. The program, combined with the installation of CCTV cameras in public spaces to ensure women’s safety, further aligned the AAP’s welfare agenda with the specific concerns of female voters (Sharma, 2024). Though criticised for potentially reinforcing traditional gender roles by treating women as passive beneficiaries, the initiative’s success in increasing female workforce participation has been undeniable. The policy has helped the AAP consolidate its female voter base, demonstrating how targeted interventions can have a dual socio-economic and political impact.
West Bengal’s Kanyashree Prakalpa, introduced by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), offers financial incentives for girls to stay in school and has been instrumental in improving female education rates across the state. The scheme not only addressed gender disparities in education but also played a critical role in the TMC’s electoral strategy during the 2021 state elections, where women voters significantly contributed to the party’s victory (Chattopadhyay, 2020). Similarly, Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Cycle Yojana, which provides bicycles to schoolgirls, has enhanced girls’ mobility and increased school attendance. This program has not only challenged gendered mobility restrictions but also fostered electoral loyalty among women who directly benefited from these initiatives (Arya, 2023).
Programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), initially launched to gain rural electoral support, have had profound impacts beyond their political intent by significantly reducing indoor air pollution and improving health outcomes in millions of households (Sahu et al., 2024). Similarly, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao has played a crucial role in transforming societal norms by promoting girls’ education, particularly in traditionally patriarchal regions. The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate has enhanced women’s financial autonomy, addressing entrenched economic barriers, while the introduction of a 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies represents a pivotal advancement towards achieving gender parity in governance (Kulkarni, 2024). While some of these initiatives may have been politically driven, their real-world impact has been transformative, shifting women from passive welfare recipients to active agents of socio-political change. The Triple Talaq Law, though controversial, has offered essential legal protection for Muslim women by criminalising instant divorce, while schemes like free public transport for women in states such as Delhi have substantially improved women’s mobility and access to economic opportunities (Rajput, 2024).
The BJP’s Ladli Behna Yojana, offering monthly cash transfers to women, and the Congress’ Gruha Lakshmi scheme in Karnataka, which provides financial support to women heads of households, are designed to secure political loyalty ahead of the 2024 general elections (Kumar, 2024). These policies not only cater to women’s socio-economic needs but also underscore their importance as a decisive voting bloc. By directly addressing issues such as education, financial independence, and safety, political parties are recognising the critical role women play as voters, decision-makers, and contributors to both household and national economies.
However, the success of gender-responsive budgeting is not guaranteed, as post-election results have shown mixed outcomes. Despite the BJP’s extensive outreach to female voters through welfare schemes, the 2024 general elections revealed that its female voter base did not increase significantly. According to a Lokniti-CSDS post-poll survey, while 36% of women voted for the BJP, this was slightly lower than the 37% of men who supported the party. In contrast, the Congress saw a 2% rise in support from female voters, with 22% of women voting for the party compared to 21% of men (Shamim, 2024).
Conclusion: Way Forward
While women-centric welfare schemes have played a pivotal role in shaping electoral politics in India, their real success lies in empowering women beyond the ballot box. The challenge is to move these programs away from politically motivated announcements toward long-term, transformative initiatives. Programs like Kudumbashree in Kerala, which has a network of 4.58 million women in self-help groups (SHGs), and MGNREGA, where 54% of beneficiaries are women, have demonstrated that real empowerment comes through financial independence, literacy, and leadership and not just subsidies, incentives or short-hand rewards (Karuppiah, 2022; Rodriguez, 2022). The Amul Cooperative, even though not a welfare scheme, serves as an inspiring model for designing women-centric programs. It shows how decentralised, women-led governance can enhance both economic and social autonomy, with over 70% of its dairy cooperatives managed by women. Amul’s model combines training, financial inclusion, and leadership roles to create a self-sustaining environment. Women not only contribute economically but also lead cooperatives, ensuring a deep-rooted, long-term impact. This approach serves as a valuable lesson for designing welfare schemes aimed at empowering women (Sapovadia & Achuthan, 2005).
Programs like the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, while commendable for encouraging education and providing financial incentives, often focus on short-term handouts without addressing deeper issues such as skills development or the creation of long-term economic opportunities (Suri, 2023). For welfare schemes to achieve sustained impact, they must prioritise skill development, financial literacy, and women’s leadership in governance. By adopting a holistic and sustained approach, India can transform women-centric welfare from short-term political strategies into true instruments of socio-economic empowerment, fostering a more inclusive and equitable scenario.
