Cutting across party lines, all women legislators of Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Thursday participated in a debate on the budgetary demands of the Women & Child Development Department after the House unanimously passed a resolution to this effect.
The proposal to make it an all-woman affair was mooted by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra on Wednesday when the discussion on the department's budgetary demands began and the House unanimously agreed to it.
When the discussion began on Thursday, former Minister and BJP MlA Archana Chitnis, who was in the chair, ensured that all women members present in the House got an opportunity to put forth their views on the issues directly associated with them.
During the debate, the members came up with a number of suggestions for the welfare of women and children in the State. In her reply, Women & Child Development Minister Maya Singh said a total of 4,905 new Anganwadi centres will be opened in the State in new financial year.
The Minister also announced setting up of hostels for working women in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Singh said a total of 22 lakh girls benefited from the Government's flagship 'ladli laxmi Scheme' and various measures being taken to prevent child marriages. After the Minister's reply, the House unanimously passed with a voice vote the budgetary demands of over Rs 2,706.93 crore concerning her department.