Gender Responsive Budgeting for The Department of Registration ...

Since the subsidy has been introduced, there is a sharp increase in the number of agricultural
land deeds registered by women. From January 2004 to December 2005, more than two lakh
women have registered agricultural land in their names. The total benefit accrued to women
under this rebate is Rs. 13,989 lakhs, which amounts to an average of Rs. 6621 per women.
Reduction of stamp duty on gift deeds of immovable property in a woman’s name:
The State Government has reduced the stamp duty from 8% to 5%, in the case of a gift deed
of immovable property executed in favour of a sister/daughter/grand daughter/mother or
wife.
Mandatory provision of stamp duty for divorce instrument
The Rajasthan Stamp Act, 1998 has a mandatory provision of stamp duty of Rs. 50 for a
divorce instrument. The provision of stamp duty is primarily to ensure a legally acceptable
document to safeguard the interest of the divorced woman, and not so much as a means of
revenue.
Apart from the details mentioned above, the Department of Registration and Stamps is not
offering any scheme/rebate specifically for women.
Recommendations
Based on the above analysis, following are the recommendations to the State Government to
promote gender equity in the work of the Department of Registration and Stamps:
• The Department is recommended to review the management information systems to enable
collection of information that is disaggregated by sex as much as possible.
• More than 2 lakh women have availed the subsidy for stamp duty offered by the State
Government for registration of agricultural land by women. An impact assessment of this
initiative can be undertaken, to determine how the rebate and the registration have
affected the self-esteem, decision-making ability and position within the household
among the female recipients of the subsidy.
• There is no difference in the stamp duty between males and females for registration of
land in urban areas. A revision of the stamp duty is suggested, with provision of a rebate
for land registered in a woman’s name, in urban areas also. While such a scheme should
include all women, if the consequent loss of revenue to the State is a concern, it could be
restricted to single women, divorcees and widows.
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