Kathmandu, January 20:

Nepal leads in gender responsive budget in South Asia. Similarly, Nepal is also in the club of 62 countries — out of 190 countries — that have gender responsive budget (GRB).

Gender responsive budget is one of the most effective tools to mainstream gender in policies and planning to reddress inequalities and promote women’s economic and socio-political rights, said acting finance secretary (revenue) Krishnahari Ba-nskota, chairing the concluding session today.

“Nepal has always given priority in inclusiveness in the society,” said finance minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, yesterday inaugurating the ‘Integrated Gender Responsive Budgeting into the Aid Effectiveness Agenda’ that concluded here today.

Chairing the inaugural session, finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal also told the two-day long seminar that Nepal has been very sensitive in the gender issue. “Nepal has done more in terms of gender sensitive budget,” he added.

Nepal has established Gender Responsive Budget Committee (GRBC) in 2005 and started implementing it since last fiscal year’s budget. The Parliament has passed a resolution for minimum of 33 per cent representation of women in all government mechanism.