People at the Margins: Whose Budget? Whose Rights? Towards Inclusive Budgeting for Dalit Women

This paper presents the findings and recommendations of a 2012-13 study by the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch. The study examined if priority is given to Dalit girls in education policy, specifically the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme, which was introduced in 2004. The scheme guarantees residential schooling to upper primary-level girls (Class 6-8) from marginalised communities. The study analysed budget and policy documents as well as primary data gathered at 12 KGBVs in Munger and Aurangabad districts of Bihar. It found that the budget for the scheme was low, it was poorly implemented, and it didn’t provide Dalit girls with a ‘non-oppressive’ learning environment. The study recommended that KGBVs should be strengthened at the national and state levels by increasing budgets. It also suggested setting up mechanisms to redress grievances, transparent student selection processes, and bal panchayats for girls.