Not to be Published/Broadcast before 8th March 2010

Women have been accorded a special status in Indian society from time immemorial. Women of today are standing tall and are playing a major role in all spheres. Apart from contributing immensely towards nation building tasks, they register their presence with male counterparts in areas such as politics, medicine, business and law and other activities. The women population in the State of Himachal Pradesh is fortunate as the State Government is going an extra mile to empower them. Consequently, the State has taken a lead in the country in women empowerment.

The State Government believes that women's empowerment is essential for the overall development of the society. Himachal Pradesh happens to be the first state providing 50 percent reservation to the womenfolk to ensure their participation in the development process. Gram Panchayats with highest birth of girl child are being provided fiscal incentives in the form of additional development grant of Rs 5 lakh.

The State has been adjudged the best in women empowerment in a survey conducted by the prestigious weekly and National electronic channel and given the 'Diamond State' award.  A number of schemes directed at women welfare and empowerment are being implemented in the State. Girls from poor families are being given Rs 11,001 marriage grant under ‘Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna. For the marriage of 1056 such girls, an amount of Rs 1.16 crore was spent in 2008-09.

Financial assistance of Rs 2000 per child to destitute women for support of two children till they attain the age of 14 years under the "Mother Teresa Matri Sambal Yojna" is being provided. In 2008-09 an amount of Rs 1.07 crore was spent for support of 13060 such children. To support the birth of a girl child in BPL families, under the ‘Balika Samridhi Yojna’ an amount of Rs 500 is deposited in a bank or post office until she attains 18 years of age.

Scholarships up to matriculation are also being provided to girls and in 2008-09, an amount of Rs 75 lakh amount was spent under this scheme.

Widow Re-Marriage Scheme has helped in getting 86 young widows to script a new beginning of their lives. Under this scheme, a financial grant of Rs 25,000 each during previous financial year was given. Families adopting permanent family planning after birth of one girl child were being awarded Rs 25,000 and with two girl child Rs 20,000 under "Indira Gandhi Balika Suraksha Yojna". The Kishori Shakti Yojna is aimed at improving nutritional and health status of adolescent girls. In the year 2008-09 as many as 95,944 girls were provided supplementary nutrition.

To check female foeticide, the Government has tightened the noose around sex determination centers in the State. Surprise checks on clinics conducting sex determination tests are being done and awareness campaigns at district and village levels are carried out to change the societal outlook towards girl child. Besides, the State Government had also launched the 'Beti Anmol Hai' campaign to create awareness amongst the populace about the skewed sex ratio in the State.

The Government has taken a strong stance on the evil of domestic violence. The State Government is exercising zero tolerance towards domestic violence and women atrocities by implementing the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 in the right spirit. The First Women Police Battalion was set up at Naina Devi in district Bilaspur. To save women from domestic violence and atrocities, three women constables have been posted in each of the police stations in the State. In addition to this, the rights of single women have also been ensured.

The State Government believes in empowering women to create a just society. The State has thus enhanced the social security pension of the widows and old aged women to Rs 330 per month benefiting over one lakh women in the State. On coming to power, the Government sanctioned public holiday on Karva Chauth, Bhaiya Dooj and Raksha Bandhan for women besides free travelling facilities for womenfolk to travel in HRTC buses within the State on Bhaiya Dooj and Raksha Bandhan.

By providing pensions to destitute, widows and aged women besides initiating various schemes for their welfare, the government has extended the social security spectra beyond the conventional provisions of women emancipation. With a focus on economic empowerment for helping women achieve financial independence, government schemes have been instrumental in the formation of 24,329 women self help groups. These groups involved in various income generating activities have generated an annual turnover of Rs 77 crores. To protect the rights of working women and check exploitation at workplaces, the government has constituted Female Grievances Redressal Committees. A gender budgeting cell has also been established in the social justice and empowerment department.                        

Issued by:

 

Director,

Information & Public Relations,

Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-2