Khanduri Government introduces Gender Budget

Dehra Dun, July 2 (UNI) A gender budget has been introduced by the state government in its Budget 2007-08, for the first time.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri while presenting the Budget today said that Gender Budget was presented as a step towards women's empowerment. He said to encourage higher education among girls belonging to BPL families ''Gaura Devi Kanya Dhan Yojana'' has been launched with the provision of Rs 20 crore. To reduce the drudgery of poor women living in remote hill areas, a provision of Rs eight crore has been made for facilitating cooking gas connection on priority. To universalise primary education, ''Education for All Project'', last year's budget estimate of Rs 160 crore has been increased to Rs 253 crore this time.

Mr Khanduri said that to protect infants from life threatening diseases, neonatal units would be started in all government women's hospitals.

UNI