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Sri Mulyani pushes for gender mainstreaming in state budget
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is urging officials in her ministry to formulate a state budget structure that is more accommodating to solve problems specific to women’s and men’s issues
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Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (left) and the ministry's expert staff Puspita Wulandari speak at the ministry's celebration on Kartini Day in Jakarta on April 28. (JP/Stefani Ribka)
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inance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is urging officials in her ministry to formulate a state budget structure that is more accommodating to solve problems specific to women’s and men’s issues.
“In our budget, that [gender mainstreaming] is still obscure. I cannot identify it clearly and that means we’re still not able to [allocate budgets based on gender issues],” she said during the ministry’s celebration of Kartini Day on Friday.
Kartini is a historical Indonesian figure for female empowerment.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, still suffers from high maternal mortality rate. The country recorded 359 maternal deaths per 100,000 births in 2012. The figure is a dramatic increase from 102 deaths per 100,000 births in 2007, various data shows.
The Indonesian Women’s Congress (Kowani) said maternal deaths come as result of limited access to health care for women in remote areas, as well as early marriages.
In addition to pushing for more gender-aware state budget, the minister also emphasized the importance of a taxation system that is fair for low-income communities, particularly through non-taxable income (PTKP), which is currently applicable, and is strict and clear to prevent members of the high-income bracket from committing tax evasion. (bbn)
