While discussing the budgetary demands of the Women and Child Development Department in the Assembly Building, Women and Child Development Minister Bhanuben Babaria said that to make India a developed nation, women empowerment should be the focal point of the government. Women have an invaluable contribution in India's development journey.
He said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge of Gujarat, he had created a separate Women and Child Development Department for women. Many women welfare schemes have been implemented by establishing a complete women welfare department in place of sporadic works for women.
Talking about the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, he said that with the aim of increasing the participation of women in politics as well as in every field, the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill of 33 percent reservation for women has been passed in the Parliament and Assembly. A milestone for the future development of women in India.
He said that Rs 6,885 crore has been provided to the Women and Child Development Department of Gujarat Government in the year 2024-25, an increase of 13.5 percent as compared to the previous year.
The Health Minister said that to fulfill the Prime Minister's call of Poshan Desh Roshan, 32 lakh beneficiaries have been given benefits in the year 2023-24 in the National Nutrition Campaign running across the country. Apart from this, Rs 878 crore 7 lakh has been made available for the year 2024-25 under the Supplementary Nutrition Scheme.
Giving more information, he said that in the year 2024-25, Rs 132 crore 33 lakh will be provided under Doodh Sanjeev Yojana, Rs 128 crore 98 lakh under Nutrition Sudha Scheme, Rs 322 crore 40 lakh for Chief Minister Matrushakti Yojana, Rs 14 crore 40 lakh for National Nutrition Campaign. Rs 346 crore 4 lakh has been given under Lakh Purna Yojana.
This year 36 new Anganwadi centers have been inaugurated. Next year, more than 9 thousand Anganwadi workers and Tadagar sisters will be recruited.
Giving information about women-oriented welfare schemes, he said that the state government has always given priority to the safety of women. For which schemes like Sakhi One Stop Center Scheme, Women Protection Home are working. Rs 252 crore 34 lakh has been provided for assistance under Wali Dikri Scheme to celebrate the birth of children.
Apart from this, Rs 2 thousand 362 crore 63 lakh has been made available for the sisters of Ganga Swaroop under the Ganga Swaroop Financial Assistance Scheme. This year, 39.71 percent gender budget has been presented against the total budget of the state.
To further strengthen the Anganwadi infrastructure, construction of Anganwadis through innovative modular technology, I.T. To make smart Anganwadis equipped with the system, 8 thousand new Anganwadis will be constructed in 3 years.
Apart from this, 20 thousand Anganwadis will be converted into smart Anganwadis, for which a provision of Rs 200 crore has been made.
Mahila Swavalamban Yojana to provide interest subsidy on bank loans for self-employment to needy women has increased the existing rate of subsidy. Under this scheme, Rs 2 crore 23 lakh has been made available for grant through the State Women Economic Development Corporation.
14.4 million for the purchase of various growth monitoring devices aimed at assessing and monitoring the growth and nutritional status of children, pregnant women, expectant mothers and adolescent girls every month, a total provision of 1.94 million for the purpose of adding AYUSH component to empower adolescent girls Packets were distributed. A total of Rs 344 crore 7 lakh has been made available for the Purna scheme.
Talking about millets, he said that the year 2023 has been celebrated as the International Year of Millets. To spread the campaign of Millet-Shri Anna across the state, 3,243 competitions were organized and prizes distributed in all the Anganwadis of the state.
Kishori fair was organized at the district taluka level from 11 to 13 October 2023 on the theme of Empowered Kishori Suposhi Gujarat. In which 40 thousand girls and 15 thousand 659 Purna cum Sakhi participated.