BSS, Dhaka :
Like the existing gender budget report, the government is planning to prepare a separate report incorporating its all child-focused programmes from fiscal year 2015-16, said finance minister AMA Muhith.
“It is not possible to prepare a complete budget for children but we’re planning to prepare a separate report with government’s all child-focused programmes from FY16, said the finance minister while speaking at the launching of a report styled ‘Child Budget in Bangladesh’ at a city hotel here Saturday.
The finance minister sought suggestions from organizations and individuals working with child budget for preparing such a report.
State minister for finance MA Mannan, former adviser to caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury, member of parliamentary Caucus on child rights Shawkat Ali Badsha, secretary of women and children affairs ministry Tariq-Ul-Islam, Unicef Bangladesh representative Pascal Villeneuve, Save the Children’s country director Micheal McGrath and chairperson of Centre for Services and Information on Disability Naszma Shams.
Muhith said, the programmes, the government generally takes in the national budget remain scattered in different ministries. A large porting of child budget goes to primary education, he said, adding that such programmes can be identified for further expansion.
He said one of the major problems for child budget is nutrition programmes where there are some weaknesses. Necessary attention will have to be given here, he added.
About definition of child, Muhith said the definition of child of 18 years is unacceptable and it must be reformed.
The age needs to be fixed at 16 and child marriage goes up for increasing this age from 18 to 16, he added.
