Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Smt Smriti Irani has asserted that women’s health and empowerment have become integral part of Government’s programmes and policies.
Addressing the Zonal Conference of States and Stakeholders from Western Region in Mumbai, the Minister said the government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi is committed to protect the self-respect of women, by addressing challenges with multi-sectoral approach.
The focus of the Zonal Conference is on three important topics, viz : Mission Poshan 2.0 relating to nutrition of women and children, Mission Shakti relating to safety and security of women, Mission Vatsalya aimed at securing a happy and healthy childhood for every child.
Referring to the Union Budget 2022-23, Smt Irani informed that the allocation for women related programmes has increased by 14%. “The Union Budget 2022-23 has allocated Rs 1.71 lakh crores for women in our country. We are the first government and the country which has integrated the gender component in our inter-governmental fiscal transfers” she added.
Smt Irani further observed that it has been an administrative legacy that states come to the Centre at the end of the financial year speaking of challenges in implementing the schemes.
To address this issue, the Centre has been proactively reaching out to the states and the stakeholders in the spirit of cooperative federalism and hence the Zonal Conferences are being held across the country.
“Prime Minister Modi has said over and over again that development will be possible only when states work in cooperation with Centre in the true spirit of cooperative federalism” she added.
The Minister in her speech highlighted how the various schemes of the Ministry of Women & Child Development are benefitting and empowering women in different fields. She said that with over 11 lakh toilets built, the Swachch Bharat Mission has ensured that every day of woman is started with cleanliness.
Smt. Irani further said that separate toilets for girls have been built in more than 4 lakh government schools within a year. The Minister reminded that in the absence of separate toilets for girls, the drop out ratio of girl children was as high as 23% before.
