Fifty pc reservation for women in local bodies on consensus in MP

Bhopal, July 30: With the objective to increase women representation, reservation for women in local bodies would be raised from 33 per cent to 50 per cent on the basis of consensus arrived after deliberations at the state's first ever Mahila Panchayat held here today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

Mr Chouhan, while addressing the Mahila Panchayat, announced gender budgeting from next financial year to ensure benefits of beneficiary-oriented schemes to women like those belonging to SCs and STs.

In order to provide economic security to girls of poor families, a scheme 'Surakshit Kanya Yojana' would be launched under which Rs one lakh would be made available to them when they turn 21. Bank deposits made in the name of poor girls would come about Rs one lakh on maturity when they turn 21.

A special desk -- with women police personnel dealing with complaints -- would be arranged in select urban police stations to help women lodge complaints without hesitation.

Later, such special desks would be arranged in other police stations across the state.

Besides, all arrangements would be made for providing assistance and protection to witnesses and women in case of persecution and exploitation. Also, it would be ensured that culprits get punished at all cost.

Mr Chouhan presented Rs one lakh cheque to a rape victim as financial help at the Mahila Panchayat.

Fifty pc reservation for women in local bodies on consensus in MP He assured that women advocates in adequate strength would be provided in courts to speed up legal processes under victim support system. An award of Rs 10,000 was announced for providing information about female feticide. Announcing to reserve 10 per cent of posts in police force for women, he said launching a 'helpline' for women for guidance would be considered.

Mr Chouhan assured that honorarium of Anganwadi workers would be increased and said Self Help Groups of women would be provided all assistance.

Throwing light on the objectives of the Mahila Panchayat, he said that the event was organised to invite suggestions from women to chalk out a well-thought out policy.

This was above politics and women regardless of their political ideologies participated in the event. He said Mahila Panchayats were proposed to be held in every six months.

Women and Child Development Minister Kusum Mehdele said development programmes founded on the aspirations of women would be more practical and effective.

Referring to the 'god bharai', birth day celebration of children, annaprashan schemes proposed for Anganwadis, she said these schemes would help alter scenario in favour of women and children.

She said quality education and health services for women and children would help eradicate many ills like female feticide. She informed about initiatives to improve nutritional quality of diet being served to Anganwadi children.

Minister of State for Women and Children Development Meena Singh described the Mahila Panchayat as a novel step towards empowerment of women saying that the suggestions for new women policy were also useful for other departments.

Rajya Sabha MP Maya Singh described the event as historic one in the country. She said that representation of women in areas like media, IT and government services should be increased.

MP Nita Pateria said better understanding of gender issues was a must among women, as it could provide lasting solutions to many social evils like alcoholism.

Rajya Sabha member Anusuiya Uike announced to construct 15 Anganwadi centres in tribal blocks every year from MP Local Area Development Fund. She said 'Sathin' scheme of Rajasthan must be considered for Madya Pradesh.

Gita Ben, who worked for economic rehabilitation of Bedia tribe women, urged the state government to construct hostels for girls.

Those who gave their suggestions included Hemlata Sahrma, Shaila Agrawal, Shakuntala Parmar, Anita Mishra, Gitanjali Bhatnagar, Maya Singh Patel, Mamta Singh, Manju Verma, Urmila Katare, Firoza Khan, Sadhna Chaturvedi, Anjana Chaturvedi, Archana Saxena, Anuradha Trivedi, Uma Bhargava, Rachna Tyagi, Sunita Dubey, Padma Shukla, Gayatri Parihar and Pratibha Shivle. Other women representatives gave their suggestions in writing.

UNI