PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Experts have expressed mixed opinions regarding the Union Budget 2026-27 announcement of establishing one girls’ hostel in every district. On Sunday, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a slew of measures aimed at expanding access to higher education for women and supporting women-led enterprises. The proposal includes the construction of a girls’ hostel in every district, addressing the accommodation challenges faced by women pursuing higher studies.
The chairperson of Uttarakhand State Commission for Women (USCW), Kusum Kandwal remarked, “The Budget 2026 is not just a financial provision for the women of the country but a pledge for their economic rise. The historic allocation of Rs 5 lakh crore and the decision to open girls’ hostels in every district is a revolutionary step that will eliminate the barriers of distance and insecurity from the path of education for daughters from remote areas. This expansion of hostel and crèche facilities for working women will elevate their participation in the workplace.”
The former chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Usha Negi also welcomed the initiative of girls’ hostels. She, however, in the same breath, expressed concern about the implementation of proposed schemes. She said that while policies are often announced, they are frequently not executed in practice. “The budget presented in the name of women empowerment will be meaningful only if the proposals mentioned are properly implemented,” she said.
The head of the Zoology department at Government PG College of Uttarkashi and regional director of UOU, Uttarkashi, Madhu Thapliyal welcomed the proposal for girls’ hostels in every district in the Union Budget 2026-27. However, she cautioned that the safety of the girls in these hostels must also be prioritised. “This includes measures such as CCTV cameras and adequate staff,” she added. Further, she emphasised that if authorities are serious about women’s empowerment, the budget should also address health priorities for women by reducing the prices of essential items like milk and dry fruits.
