“The United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that one in six children suffers from developmental disabilities. In the plantation sector, one out of every three people suffers from developmental deficiencies. Mothers have no way of feeding their children. Commodity prices have skyrocketed, and people starve due to the high prices of foodstuff. However, the expenditure has been increased for the Ministry of Defense. This budget is not a people’s budget at all. It is not a budget for the development of women and children, and it is a budget made for the welfare of the rulers. Therefore, we tell the people that they must immediately line up to save the country’s resources to bring a budget that is made for them, for women and children,” said Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Secretary of the Women for Rights Organization.
She said this speaking at a media briefing held at the JVP head office at Pelawatta today (30th.
Speaking further, she said, “Currently, the 2022 budget is being discussed in Parliament. The Budget 2022 debate for Education, Women and Children’s Affairs falls on the 1st of December. At present, there is no separate Ministry for Children and Women’s Affairs. There is a state ministry in that regard. It belongs to the State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-School Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services. Only Rs. 18,105 million has been allocated for recurrent expenditure in 2022. Capital expenditure is Rs. 4,700 million. Expenditure has been cut by Rs. 7,625 million in 2022 compared to 2021. That means funds have been cut by 25% over last year. While there is a lot of talk about the protection of children and women, empowerment of women, and the allocation of funds for pre-schools, the largest amount of money in the country is allocated to the Ministry of Defense despite there is no war. When no other country has declared war on us more than the amount allocated for health and education has been allocated to Defense. 373 billion rupees has been allocated for it. Only 153 billion rupees has been allocated for health. 169 billion allocated for education. Adding these two together brings in only 322 billion rupees. But defence spending is 373 billion rupees while only 573 million to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Of that, 493 million has been earmarked for salaries, fares and services.
Only Rs. 80 million has been allocated for capital expenditure. Allocations for the Probation and Child Affairs Authority are insufficient. Allocations for women empowerment have been reduced by Rs. 40 million. While the protection of women and children is being discussed in the country and throughout the world, women are being verbally abused in Parliament, making laws on the protection of women and other matters. Women have been downgraded. Not only has the budget not allocated money for women, but women are being oppressed during the budget debate. Govt. MP Tissa Kutty made insulting remarks regarding women. We suggest that the government itself should apologize to the women of the country for the sordid act.
These vulgar MPs are insulting women by making vulgar speeches on behalf of a garbage budget. They are trying to get a garbage budget passed. Meanwhile, a ferry capsized near Kinniya in Trincomalee. This makes it clear who the development of our country is for. The monthly electricity bill of some MPs is around 1.8 million. But our children have to risk their lives on a substandard ferry. The leaders of the country do not see this difference. Due to this, there is a tendency for such tragedies to occur anywhere in the country.
The United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that one in six children suffers from developmental disabilities. In the plantation sector, one out of every three people suffers from developmental deficiencies. Mothers have no way of feeding their children. Commodity prices have skyrocketed, and people starve due to the high prices of foodstuff. However, the expenditure has been increased for the Ministry of Defense. This budget is not a people’s budget at all. This is not a budget for the development of women and children. It is a budget made for the welfare of the rulers. Therefore, we tell the people that they must immediately line up to save the resources of the country to bring a budget that is made for them, for women and children.”
