The State Government will provide financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for marriage of widows. Besides, the Below Poverty line status will no longer be required for sanctioning pension to them. The female candidates will have relaxation in physical fitness parameters for recruitment as police constable. The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made these announcements while talking to women under Dil Se programme at AIR and Doordarshan here on Sunday.
Chouhan also announced to make available sanitary napkins in predominantly tribal blocks at fifty percent price. The husband and wife in government service will be possibly posted at one place. In order to ensure nutrition and health of mothers and children, the Prime Minister Matru Vandana scheme will be launched. He said that no stones would be left unturned to make life of mothers and daughters comfortable. He called upon the people to encourage marriage of widows and root out the social evils like dowry and child marriages.
The Chief Minister said that stringent law would be enacted soon to award capital punishment to the accused of rape. For molestation, the culprits would be given 10 years rigorous punishment. He said that the school buses equipped with CCTV camera would be given permission to prevent eve-teasing. He informed that provisions are being thought out not to give bail to in the rape cases without listening to government pleader. laws ensuring due share in the ancestral property would be strictly implemented.
The limit of matching grant for women's Self Help Groups would be reduced from Rs one crore to Rs 50 lakh for micro finance activities. They will get additional grant of upto three percent on Rs. three lakh. There would be exemption in stamp duty on loan limit of Rs one lakh. The offices of Gram Panchayat will have Women Self Help Group Desk. The women's SHGs would be given the task of preparing school uniforms. A comprehensive portal of women SHGs would be created.
The Chief Minister said that child marriages should be opposed at any cost. The State Government is committed to socio-economic empowerment of daughters. Today the state has Rs 26 lakh ladli laxmi beneficiaries. They will have Rs 31 crore in their when they attain 21 years of their age. He informed about ladli Shiksha Parva on coming October 12. Under this, 65,000 daughters entering sixth class would be given Rs 2,000 each as scholarship. Free health checkups would be organised.
Referring to lado Abhiyan for discouraging child marriages, Chouhan informed that about one lakh child marriages have been prevented. He praised Pooja of Kachnara in Mandsour district who went to the court and got her marriage nullified. He urged women to associate themselves with Shourya Dal and prevent social evils. He referred to Kumari Kajal Baiga of Mandla district who foiled attempts for her forced marriage. He said that education of daughters is the responsibility of the State Government. All steps have been taken for this.
Chouhan motivated women to become self reliant in every respect. He referred to many business ventures started by women and running well. Referring to economic empowerment of women through SHGs, Chouhan said that 22 lakh families have been associated with two lakh SHGs, which have received loan about Rs 1800 crore. He said that 1.50 lakh female members of SHGs have formed lakhpati Club and have come out of poverty.
CM said SHGs would be made more effective and economically powerful. He said that the government will give matching grant equivalent to the capital money saved by women SHGs enabling them to take up micro finance activities. This will be launched in one selective district as pilot project.