Allocates Rs 25.20 crore to increase Mahila Kosh budget, waive off loans for Self-Help Groups

Social Security Pension Scheme: Pension amount increased by Rs 150 to Rs 500 per month

Minister Smt. Anila Bhediya presented budgetary demands for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare departments

Raipur TNINS 

The budgetary demands of Rs1,468.77 crores for fiscal 2023-24 of the Women and Child and Social Welfare departments headed by Minister Smt. Anila Bhediya was unanimously passed by the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Rs 1,357.17 crores were allocated for women and child development while Rs 111.59 crore for the Social Welfare Department. During the discussion on the grants, Members of the Legislative Assembly, Smt. Ranjana Dipendra Sahu and Smt. Savitri Manoj Mandavi participated.

Minister Smt. Anila Bhediya said during the discussion in the Assembly that there has been a 14.7 per cent increase in her department's budget compared to the previous year's budget. She also informed that the state government is operating six Sakhi centers in four districts for working women. A provision of Rs 1.37 crores has been made for this in the budget for the year 2023-24. In addition, a toll-free helpline service number 181 is operational for the safety of women.

She further stated that this year a provision of Rs 25.20 crore has been made while increasing the budget of the Mahila Kosh. She said that through this fund, the limit of loans given to self-help groups is increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2-4 lakh on successful repayment of loans. She also mentioned that Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel has waived off loans worth Rs 11.03 crore taken by Self-Help Groups under the loan scheme operated by the Chhattisgarh Mahila Kosh, who were unable to repay the loan and interest due to unavoidable reasons.

Smt. Bhediya said that every year state-level 'Mahila Madai' is organized by the Women and Child Development Department to economically empower and make them self-reliant. Similar events are also being organized at the district level to raise awareness and empower women, enabling them to earn lakhs of rupees. Efforts are also being made to provide self-employment opportunities for other women as well. She said that the women of Chhattisgarh are involved in many jobs, including income-generating activities in Gauthans, mid-day meals, and selling forest products. They are not weak, they do all their work themselves, including banking transactions.

Smt. Bhediya stated that the state government has increased the pension given to destitute, elderly, disabled, widows, and abandoned women under Social Security Pension Scheme to Rs 500 per month. While there has been an increase of only Rs 50 in pension amounts in the past 15 years, our government has increased it by Rs 150. She said that as a result of the efforts made by the state government to bring the transgender community into the mainstream of society, individuals belonging to the TG community have been selected in the police and Bastar fighters.