A total of Rs 17408 cr allocated to WCD Ministry in the budget 2016-17
Allocation for setting up One Stop Centres for Women stepped up substantially to Rs 75 cr, Rs 500 cr for Nirbhaya Fund in the budget
The Economic Survey for 2016-17 states that investment in maternal and child nutrition is a must for the country to capitalize on the demographic dividend. Taking this forward, the Budget for 2016-17 announced by the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, has provided enhanced budgetary support for critical areas where schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development are operational particularly for providing supplementary nutrition as well as protection for women and children. Allocation for setting up One Stop Centres for Women stepped up substantially to Rs 75 cr, Rs 500 cr for Nirbhaya Fund in the budget
As per the Expenditure Statement, the total budget allocation for 2016-17 stands at Rs. 17,408 crores. A total amount of Rs. 15,860 crores has been provided for the development of children which includes additional funds to the tune of Rs. 415 crores and Rs. 300 crores respectively under the World Bank assisted strengthening programme for ICDS and the National Nutrition Mission. Additional funds have also been provided for setting up of the Food and Nutrition laboratories. Both these will ultimately provide support to the Ministrys effort to fight child malnutrition in the country.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao budget has been enhanced from Rs. 75 crores (RE) to Rs. 100 crores in 2016-17. Similarly, the allocation for establishment of shelter homes for women has been increased from Rs. 52 crores (RE) in 2015-16 to Rs. 100 crores in 2016-17. The allocation for establishment of One Stop Centres has been increased by almost 500%, from Rs 13 crores to Rs 75 crores. The Finance Ministry has also allocated an amount of Rs. 500 crores to be transferred into the Nirbhaya Fund for meeting requirements for additional schemes for womens safety.
With these measures, it is expected that the Ministry will be able to effectively take forward the agenda of development of women and children.
