THE All India Democratic Women’s Association has organised a public hearing on April 27 to “Expose anti-people, pro-corporate budget” of the NDA government. The jury comprised Brinda Karat (patron, AIDWA and former Member of Parliament), Aruna Roy (MKSS, Rajasthan and former member of National Advisory Council), Indira Jaisingh (eminent Supreme Court lawyer and human right activist), and Prof Utsa Patnaik (Professor Emeritus, JNU). Aruna Roy highlighted the importance of holding the government accountable for the huge amount of people's money they are simply handing over to the corporates. Indira Jaisingh said that the fight on the street and in the court will have to go hand-in-hand in opposing Modi government’s anti-people policies. Brinda Karat gave the call for public hearings in every state to expose the impact of budget cuts on women. Prof Utsa Patnaik highlighted the fudging of figures on transfers to states by the central government. Several women MPs from different opposition parties attended the public hearing and extended full support. PK Sreemathi (MP, Lok Sabha), Jharna Das Baidya (MP, Rajya Sabha), Jaya Bachchan (MP, Rajya Sabha), Vandana Chavan (MP, Rajya Sabha) and Kanaklata (MP, Rajya Sabha) assured that they would take up some of the cases that came up and all the MPs have promised to raise the issue on the floor of the house. A booklet titled “BJP’s ‘big bang’ reforms booting women out of the budget” by Smita Gupta was released on the occasion. Several poor and working women from different parts of Delhi spoke about the dismal condition of social and public services in Delhi, like health, education, water, sanitation, etc. Women from Haryana too spoke about the long delays in wage payment, cutting of wages and low work under MNREGS. Participants highlighted the growing violence against young children and women and the inadequate rehabilitation of survivors. The speakers agreed that the Modi-led government has given a huge thrust to massive transfers and concessions to big capital (foreign and domestic) for the “ease of doing business”, while undoing any semblance of ‘human face’ or ‘safety net’ measures to alleviate poverty, reduce economic distress or provide social services. Speakers noted with dismay the manner in which the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) 2015-16 and the allocations to the ministry of women and child development reveal lower allocations and closure of quite a few significant schemes for women. The Gender Budget too has been severely cut by 20 per cent (less by Rs 20,000 crore) from about one lakh crores to Rs 79,258 crores. It may be mentioned that such public hearing will be conducted by AIDWA throughout the nation from April 27- May 7, 2015 and memorandum demanding the withdrawal of budget cuts will be sent to the prime minister of India.