Centre has allocated Rs 17,408 crore to Women and Child Development Ministry in this year's budget, with an increase of nearly Rs 25 crore in the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme over the last fiscal.
"The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao budget has been enhanced from Rs 75 crore to Rs 100 crore in 2016-17. Similarly, the allocation for establishment of shelter homes for women has been increased from Rs 52 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 100 crore," a statement from the ministry said.
The allocation for establishment of 'one stop centres' has also been enhanced by almost 500 per cent.
"The allocation for 'one stop centres' has been increased from Rs 13 crore to Rs 75 crore. The Finance Ministry has also allocated Rs 500 crore to be transferred into the Nirbhaya Fund for meeting requirements for additional schemes for women's safety," it said.
The Economic Survey for 2016-17 states that investment in maternal and child nutrition is a must for the country to capitalise on the demographic dividend.
"Taking this forward, the Budget for 2016-17 announced by the Union Finance Minister 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," it said.
An amount of Rs 15,860 crore has been provided for the development of children which includes additional funds to the tune of Rs 415 crore and Rs 300 crore respectively under the World Bank assisted strengthening programme for ICDS and the National Nutrition Mission, the ministry said.
Additional funds have also been provided for setting up of the Food and Nutrition laboratories. Both these will ultimately provide support to the Ministry's effort to fight child malnutrition in the country.
