A day after Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya rapped the Delhi and West Bengal Governments for failing to implement central flagship Ayushmaan Bharat health insurance scheme, Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi pulled up the two BJP-Opposition ruled States for not enforcing crucial women's safety measures despite central funding and support.

Addressing the media, the Minister pointed out that the Delhi government had failed to pay the staff working at the One-Stop Centres (OSCs), which were set up under the Nirbhaya Fund to assist women in distress.

She emphasised that the Centre had consistently provided support through initiatives like the Nirbhaya Fund, yet state-level delays in implementation were disappointing. The Delhi High Court had recently directed the Delhi government's revenue department to streamline payment processes for OSC staff and take action against the responsible officials.

"The Centre has consistently supported states through initiatives like the Nirbhaya Fund, but it is disappointing to see delays in implementation at the state level," the Minister said.

Minister Devi also took aim at the West Bengal government for its failure to operationalise Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) aimed at expediting cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, an initiative that received central backing.

In contrast, she highlighted the success of these programs on the national level, citing the 802 OSCs across the country that have supported over 10 lakh women and the 752 FTSCs that have resolved over 2.66 lakh cases. Devi further emphasized the central government’s commitment to women-led development, noting the increase in the Gender Budget from Rs 97,000 crore in 2013-14 to over Rs 3 lakh crore in 2024-25.

Devi also referred to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, which reserves 33 percent of seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, as a landmark step toward empowering women. She reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s belief that India’s progress is closely tied to the empowerment of its women.

Savitri Thakur, the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, echoed Devi’s sentiments, celebrating the progress in gender equality. She highlighted the election of 74 women to the Lok Sabha in 2024 as a record and noted the successes of programs like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, which have improved the national sex ratio.

Thakur also pointed to the significant number of women who have benefited from housing initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, as well as financial empowerment programs like Stand Up India and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.

Former Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had on Monday vehemently criticised the Delhi and West Bengal Governments for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, saying that there should not be any politics over health schemes.