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Summary
- How has the 2021 budget treated women and children?
- What kind of welfare programs have been announced to help them?
- Are these plans actually feasible and provide actual benefit to women and children?
The much-awaited 2021 New Zealand Budget has been announced by the Finance Minister, Mr. Grant Robertson, and the wait and speculation about the budget’s offerings is finally over. The budget as predicted contains several elements for a collective economic recovery and growth of the country from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. What does it have in store for women and children though? How will this year’s budget help several impending health and wellness-related issues for women and children? Let’s have a look.
Women welfare provisions
This budget has several provisions to ensure health, safety, and interest protection for women. The Minister of finance in his speech said that 2021’s budget was meant to tackle the disparity being faced by certain segments of the community due to COVID-19-related unemployment, including women.
A sum of over NZ$10M shall be put towards reforming and rehabilitating the inmates at the Christchurch women’s prison. According to another announcement, there will be a sum of NZ$12M spent on the prevention of family and sexual violence being faced by women, through investment in the Kaupapa Maori providers facilitation. Marama Davidson, the minister for the same, announced that the government held that to be one of its topmost priorities. The idea is that people find help when they need it from the sources that they can trust.
Another important announcement has been made to boost art and culture, which shall help small home-grown businesses to stabilise. This will help many women across the country become financially independent.
Also read: Would New Zealand’s SMEs Gain From Budget 2021?
What has the Government planned for children?
Hon Carmel Sepuloni from social development and employment announced that the budget consisted of useful provisions for children. First and foremost, it aims to provide better childcare services for families that belong to the low- or middle-income group. The government’s new plan will benefit about 1,500 children.
There has further been the creation of 3,300 new spots in the section for Out of School Care and Recreation. Some of these would mean providing breakfast, lunches, as well as helping the children in their homework while their parents are away at work. By putting an index on the income, they will benefit the children as well as their caregivers.
Also read: NZ Markets In Green As FM Unveils Federal Budget 2021
