India's panel recommends increased aid for Afghan women, children

A parliamentary committee in India, led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, has recommended more support for women and children in Afghanistan. The committee wants the government to boost female participation in welfare programs and create new projects aimed at these groups. They also suggest seeking additional funding if necessary. The report, presented to Parliament, noted that current programs have limited female representation. For example, only 600 out of 2,000 e-ICCR scholarship recipients are women. The committee believes that improving women's welfare should become a key part of India's foreign policy. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that India has long-standing ties with Afghanistan, and they aim to help the Afghan people regardless of the political situation. The committee also questioned the security of Indians working on development projects in Afghanistan. The ministry assured them that there is a Technical Mission in Kabul monitoring these efforts. However, the committee is worried about the safety of Indian nationals in Taliban-controlled regions. They urged the government to implement measures to protect them. In terms of funding, the budget for aid to Afghanistan has seen changes. The initial allocation for 2024-25 was cut but later increased for 2025-26. The ministry explained that recent aid has helped stabilize Afghanistan's food and health needs, and now it’s time to look into new cooperation projects alongside humanitarian aid.