Strong steps taken towards health, nutrition, and economic self-reliance of women and children

81 percent increase in budget

Various welfare schemes and programs are being implemented in the state for the health, nutrition, and economic independence of women and children from their birth till their entire life. Be it the “Saksham Anganwadi Evam Poshan 2.0 Yojana” to ensure a bright future for children, the ‘Ladli Lakshmi Yojana’ to make daughters millionaires by birth or ensure that women and daughters were not only able to meet their small needs but also connected to the banking system and developed financial awareness like “Ladli Behena Yojana” have empowered the women and successfully given them a distinct identity in their family and society. To maintain its continuity, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has made a budget provision of Rs 26 thousand 560 crore for the year 2024-25, which is 81 percent more than the previous year. This year, a provision of Rs 70 thousand 447 crore has been made in the children’s budget which is 12 percent more than last year.

Giving priority to women empowerment, Mukhyamantri Ladli Behena Yojana has been continued in the state. A provision of Rs 18 thousand 984 crore has been made in the scheme this year. Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 1250 per month is being transferred to the bank accounts of eligible women in the 21 to 60 age group.

In this financial year 2024-25, a provision of Rs 3469 crore has been made for Anganwadi services under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. Mainly 6 services are being provided in it. Purak Poshan Aahar in which children aged between 6 months to 6 years, pregnant and lactating mothers, and adolescent girls are provided supplementary nutritional food for at least 30 days in a year. Under growth monitoring and vaccination, growth monitoring of all children up to 6 years of age and vaccination of pregnant women are done once a month in the prescribed 10 days with the help of the health department. Under pre-school education in Anganwadi services, physical, cognitive, social, linguistic, and aesthetic education is given to children aged 3 to 6 years who come to Anganwadi daily.

Under nutrition health education, Anganwadi workers themselves and with the help of ASHA and health workers, at the central level, through group and home visits, provide counseling to beneficiaries regarding health, hygiene, balanced diet, etc. Apart from this, every month on vaccination day, ANM, and CHO visit the nearest health center and the R.B.S. team provides health check-up facilities and necessary advice to women and children. Based on health checkups, if necessary, women and children are sent to the health center or nutrition rehabilitation center for treatment.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, a provision of Rs 350 crore has been made in this financial year. Under the scheme, to provide a cash incentive to pregnant women as partial compensation for loss of wages, a benefit of Rs 5,000 is given in two installments on the first delivery, and Rs 6,000 is given in one installment on the birth of a girl child on the second delivery. Since the inception of the scheme, more than 40 lakh beneficiaries have been registered and Rs 1663 crore has been paid. As many as 6,24,588 beneficiaries have been registered against the target of 6,31,071 by March 2024. Madhya Pradesh has been leading the country in the implementation of this scheme for 5 consecutive years from the inception of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana till the year 2022-23.

Under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, a provision of Rs 130 crore has been made under Mission Vatsalya in the financial year 2024-25. Under this scheme, the main objective is protection, maintenance, training, and vocational and family rehabilitation for the overall welfare and rehabilitation of children up to 18 years of age living in particularly difficult circumstances. Under this, 142 homes of different types are operated in the state. Overall, the state government is moving ahead while maintaining sensitivity towards children and women. Successful implementation of overall schemes is going on to improve their present and future.