In a major step towards empowerment of women, the UT Administration has decided to dedicate the year 2014 to woman by making endeavours to promote safety of girl child and encourage girl education.
The UT Administration will launch four new welfare schemes for women with a total estimated expenditure of Rs 10 crore in the financial year 2014-15.
A senior official of the UT Administrations said that all these schemes would benefit the members of disadvantaged target group especially the girl child in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. These schemes are incentive to new born girl children under ‘Hamari Beti’ programme, providing bicycle to all girls covered under priority household in NFSA – 2013 under Saraswati Yojana, providing laptops to girl students in degree colleges under e-Snatak programme and comprehensive health insurance scheme for priority household.
Also, the target group to be benefited under all the schemes will be the priority households under the National Food Security Act, 2013, added the official.
The official said, “Rs six crore has been earmarked for incentive to new born girls under Hamari Beti programme, Rs two crore proposed for providing bicycle, Rs one crore for proving laptops to girl students in degree colleges, Rs 0.5 crore for creches for children of working mothers, Rs 0.30 crore under Apni Beti Apna Dhan scheme, Rs 0.70 crore for home for
delinquent/neglected children, Rs 0.40 crore for setting up of child helpline, Rs 0.25 as
contribution to implementation of centrally sponsored Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).”
Besides, Rs six crore has been earmarked for academic performance improvement programme in 10 schools for the students of classes IX, X, XI, XII and “language And Aptitude Improvement Programme” in 10 schools for the students of class VI, VII, VIII.”
To strengthen the education sector, the UT Administration has proposed construction of new schools during next financial year. Rs 25 crore is allocated for construction for opening 18 new schools, two new Government High Smart Schools and upgradation of schools. Besides, the UT Administration would constitute Right to Education Protection Authority (REPA) for Implementation of RTE Act, construct Shiksha Bhawan and Vidya Sadan.
For the upgradation of health sector, the Administration has proposed adding latest facilities and modernising the existing health infrastructure in Chandigarh
To improve infrastructure in health sector here, Rs 1.25 crore is earmarked to implement new initiative for genetic screening test for newborn children, Rs two crore is earmarked for construction of Additional Block & Multipurpose Hall in RIE-32 and Extension of Multipurpose Hall in SIE-Sector 32, Rs 1.52 crore for the implementation of scheme of Mental Health Institute, Rs 0.10 crore for setting up of another Senior Citizen Home in Sector-34, Rs 0.75 crore for implementation of Disability Act/ Programme,
Other health sector related projects are strengthening of 100 bedded hospital at Manimajra, upgradation of Regional Institute for Mentally Handicapped has been allocated by the Centre and Rs 19.45 crore is earmarked for strengthening of Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector-16.
“Rs 4.41 crore is earmarked for strengthening of rural infrastructure by providing concretisation of the village streets, sanitation and cleanliness and strengthening of water supply/sewerage system in the villages under the Administration control,” added the official.
The official added, “From upgradation of transport to education sector, the UT Administration has planned major projects for the union territory of Chandigarh in next fiscal year 2014-15.