MP to introduce gender budgeting from next year

Declaring his government's resolve to ensure speedy empowerment of women along with rapid economic growth, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said gender budgeting would be introduced from next year, besides raising women's representation in local bodies.

"We will introduce gender budgeting from next financial year. Our aim is also to increase representation of women in local bodies," Chouhan said on the occasion of the Independence Day after unfurling the tri-colour at Motilal Nehru Stadium here amidst security.

Announcing plans to increase presence of women in the police force, he said a separate all women 'Rani Durgavati' battalion would be raised by the government which had already started setting up women desks and helplines in police stations.

Describing high maternal and infant mortality rates as a challenge, the chief minister said a host of programmes have been launched to ensure safe motherhood, while the government accorded top priority to reward those who would inform about incidents of foeticide.

In a bid to increase participation of farmers and other sections in the process of development, a 'Kisan Panchayat' would soon be organised on the lines of the one held recently for women, he said adding, similar steps would be taken for tribals, scheduled castes, elderly citizens and youths.

Speedy progress of villages would be ensured with effective implementation of schemes like rural employment guarantee programme, public-private partnership, sarvasiksha mission, rural road project and e-governance, he said.

In a bid to provide self-employment to tribals, integrated tribal dairy development project would be launched in eleven districts with an allocation of Rs 74.81 crore, Chouhan said adding, a scheme to provide iodised salt at Re 1 per kg in tribal areas was also being started.

Claiming that 20 lakh youths were provided jobs under the rural employment guarantee programme, he said around 50,000 contract teachers were appointed this year.

Affirming government's resolve to strengthen cultural values, the chief minister said subsidy would be provided to pilgrims from the state undertaking journey to Mansarovar, while cow slaughter had been completely banned and Mishrilal Gangwal award instituted to promote social harmony.

In order to ensure speedy industrialisation, proper atmosphere was being created to woo investors for which project clearance and implementation board had been set up, he said adding, a global investors' meet would also be organised soon.

Underlining the need to strengthen the farm sector, Chouhan said financial assistance to farmers hit by natural calamities had been increased, while 'patwari halka' was made the basic unit for crop insurance scheme instead of tehsil.

"Around 95,000 hectares are provided with new irrigation facilities, while work on water sector restructuring project has made speedy progress and 'jal abhishek and hariyali' programmes are being encouraged in a big way, he said.