Madhya Pradesh to institute Aruna Shanbag Memorial Award every year

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that the state government will institute of Rs. one lakh annual award in memory of Aruna Shanbag for outstanding work towards preventing violence against women. Women will be given 33 percent reservation in police force. For other government jobs too, similar provision will be considered.

Every year special health check up camps will be organised in every districts for women. Beti Bachao Abhiyan will be started in new form again. A chapter on Beti Bachao Abhiyan will be included in the school curriculum. The Chief Minister also released state’s policy for women-2015.

The Chief Minister was addressing the second Mahila Panchayat at his residence here today. In the series of “Panchayats’ being organised to directly interact with different classes, the Mahila Panchayat was organised. Women from different districts attended the function.

Coaching facility for girls for competitive exams

The Chief Minister announced that girls coming from villages and small towns to districts and divisional headquarters for higher education will be financially supported by the state government. They will be given Rs. 2000 at divisional headquarters and Rs 1250 at district headquarters for accommodation. Expenses on coaching for All-India competitive examinations and entrance tests will also be borne by the state government. The cost of higher education of daughters coming in merit list of higher secondary examinations will also be borne by the government. If young women entrepreneur plan to set up industries they will be given guarantee on loans by the State government and upto five-year will pay six percent interest subsidy. Every year, 50 thousand daughters will be imparted job oriented training.

Crèche at all district headquarters

The Chief Minister announced that all 51 district headquarters will have a crèche. Incentives will be given to women’s SHGs for outstanding functioning. Women’s self-help groups would be given priority in the work of preparing meals in government bodies. Women’s self-help groups under the project Udita will be imparted training in making sanitary napkins. Hostels for working women will be constructed at Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur. If women in emergency cases have to stay in a city, they would call the police on women’s helpline. It would be responsibility of the police to provide them safe stay.

Two-year maternity leave

The Chief Minister also announced that the districts doing well for prevention of malnutrition with public participation will be rewarded. Shaurya Dals will be set up in all 51 districts. Every year, individuals and institutions preventing child marriage will be given cash award of Rs. 51 thousand. The villages reporting more girl child births will be rewarded. Shri Chouhan said that the Usha Kiran Centres helping women in distress affected by violence will be set up at Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Rewa and Sagar. Female staff in the government could take maternity leave and child caring or nursing leave for two-year once in their service period. Government officials and employees will be given training on gender sensitivity. In case of complaints against male staff regarding harassment of women, it would be mentioned in their annual confidential reports. Adequate representation of women in employees’ advisory committees in government departments will be ensured.

Those committing crimes against women will be severely punished. Suitable measures will be taken to amend the relevant laws for which the Central Government will be approached. Women’s desks will be set up in all police stations. Currently 141 police stations have the desk. The Chief Minister said that the State Government is committed to ending discrimination against daughters. The government has chalked out different schemes to help women in all spheres of life. He said that suggestions received at the Panchayat will be considered and suitable will be implemented.

Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Maya Singh said that all 14 announcements made in the first Woman Panchayat in 2006 have been fulfilled. She said that under the guidance of the Chief Minister many radical decisions have been taken for socio-economic, political and educational empowerment of women.

Principal Secretary Women and Child Development Shri J. N. Kansotia spoke about the departmental schemes aiming at empowering women. Commissioner Women Empowerment Smt. Kalpana Shrivastava talked about objectives while highlighting the role of Mahila Panchayat .

Speaking Out

Encouraged by the Chief Minister to give inputs for policy making, women responded enthusiastically giving their suggestions.

Mrs. Savita Chouhan said that special courts should be set up for speedy delivery of justice to women. Crimes against women must be checked by strict laws. Smt. Aprana Verma of Jabalpur talked about guidance for female entrepreneurs saying that they should be given financial assistance for starting their own business.

Rekha Dahima (Mandsaur) said that reservation must be given to Banchhda community. Sushri Krishna Kanta Tomar said that Nari Niketan Centers should be set up in every division. Archana Rathore (Jhabua) said that the problem of migration in Jhabua is related to dowry demands. It must end. Sangita Desai (Agar) said that the destitutes, women should get financial support for the starting their own business.

Sushri Sarita Deshpande (Bhopal) said that fully equipped shelter homes should be built in every district. Santosh Pawar (Satna) suggested about establishment of women’s banks. Sushri Gayatri Nagpure (Balaghat) suggested increasing the honorarium of Anganwadi workers. Sushri Uma Bhargava (Bhopal) said that the administration should also be sensitive to women’s issues. Sushri Saba Rahman (Gwalior) suggested that women doing well in preventing infanticide should be honoured.

Sushri Preeti Patidar (Ujjain) said that women entrepreneurs should be given space in every market to help them ensure economic growth. Smt. Anju Datre (Gwalior) said that specific space should be earmarked for alcohol shops. Sushri Kiran Gehlot (Agar) advocated stringent legal provisions in case of domestic violence against unmarried and disabled women.

The Chief Minister launched a product of packed kodo-kutki made by Women’s self-help group Dindori. He released a booklet ‘Hauslon Ki Udan’

On this occasion, Minister for PHE, Sushri Kusum Mahdele, former Chief Minister Shri Kailash Joshi, former minister Smt. Ranjana Baghel, Chief Secretary Shri Anthony De Sa, DGP Shri Surendra Sinh, Smt. Sadhana Singh Chouhan, a large number of women working in different sectors of society were present.