They demanded "effective" measures to unearth and recover "huge" accumulation of black money in the economy, including unaccounted money in tax havens abroad and use it for strengthening social security programmes.

Seeking budgetary support for schemes to assist women-headed households, single women of different categories, and differently abled women, the groups said pension schemes for women should be made "universal and unconditional". "Special pension schemes for women who are victims of state violence, the 'half widows' of Kashmir, and those affected by violence in conflict areas to be designed with adequate funding," they said. Opposing direct cash transfers instead of food and fuel, they said providing food and essential commodities at affordable cost was the responsibility of the government and adequate allocation should be made in the budget towards this. Observing that women's work participation was declining which is an indication of negative impact of the sluggish economy on women, the groups said Government must take serious note of this critical situation and provide at least 200 days employment per household under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. "Further, to address the depressing state of female employment in urban areas there is a need to enact an effective Urban Employment Guarantee Act," they said. Stressing on the need to increase availability of funds for health care and education, they demanded allocation of 6 per cent of GDP each for public health care and education. "Increase allocations for food production, strengthen procurement, storage and distribution mechanisms in the agricultural sector and make a special budgetary provision for women farmers," they said while also seeking specific resource allocation for tribal, dalit, and minority women. Women from vulnerable social groups like dalits, tribals and minorities should receive credit at interest rates that do not exceed two per cent per annum.