Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Thursday said that the Chhattisgarh is one of the top States in female-to-male population ratio in the entire country.
She was addressing a State-level Women’s Convention in Raipur. On the occasion, Maneka launched ‘Tejaswi’ Scheme of the Chhattisgarh Women and Child Development Department.
Apart from this, she also inaugurated the fourth phase of 'Navjatan' Yojana of the Women and Child Development Department.Chief Minister Raman Singh presided over the function.
The Union Minister later felicitated several women and self-help groups (SHGs) for their dedicated services.
Chief Minister Raman Singh in his address said that Chhattisgarh is one of the leading States where female foeticide is almost eliminated.
The State is second after Kerala in women’s education, curbing foeticide and women to men ratio. The system of child marriages also will be eliminated soon, he said.
Girls who are from poor families are provided with free education. 'laadli Noni' Yojana is helping minor and other girls.
Chhattisgarh Women and Child Development Minister Ramsheela Sahu and Women and Child Development Department Secretary Dinesh Srivastava also addressed the gathering.
The Union Minister later in the day advised officials that women should take training in vocational skills in programmes organised at the Anganwadi centres in the evenings.
She also appreciated the steps taken by Chhattisgarh State Government to address the problem of malnutrition among children in the State.
Gandhi was speaking at the Nawagaon Panchayat-level Mahila Sammelan in Abhanpur Development Block.
The Union Minister visited the Anganwadi Centre and spoke to the children there.
She also visited the Nutritious Diet (Ready-To-Eat) production centre.
The Union Minister stated that malnutrition has become a major problem in the country. State Women and Child Development Minister Ramsheela Sahu, Parliamentary Secretary Roopkumari Chowdhary and a number of people's representatives were present at the function.
Gandhi called upon the gathering to take advantage of the Prime Minister's Jan-Dhan Yojana and open a bank account and they can take overdraft of Rs 5,000 also.
She said that women can get accident and life insurance under the Prime Minister's Jeevan Jyoti Bheema Yojana and Suraksha Bheema Yojana.
The Union Minister said that there is a growing number of undernourished children in the country due to malnutrition, pregnancy at a lower age, lack of nutritious diet to pregnant women and infants. It is the responsibility of the parents to provide adequate nutrition to children and lactating mothers.
She called upon the women to take full advantage of the various schemes like Step programme , Sukanya Samrudhi Scheme and become economically independent.
The Union Minister spoke to Nawagaon Anganwadi Centre worker Heera Sahu and asked about the details of children's presence, the timings of Anganwadi and the informal education of the children.
Gandhi also spoke to the children Kunaal Patel, Ishaant Sahu, Divya Sinha and Jogeshwari Patel.
The Union Minister later visited the Madhuri Self-Help Group's run Ready-To-Eat production centre and spoke to the workers present at the Centre
The Self-Help Group President Ms Madhuri Sahu said that the Group is in operation since 2009 and is running 27 centres. The Centre is earning about Rs 20,000 per month. Wheat is supplied by the administration.
Gandhi later attended the 'womb shower' (Godhbharai) and the feeding ceremony (Annaprasam) of ten toddlers. Secretary of Women and Child Development Department Dinesh Srivastava and other top officers were also present at the function.
The Union Minister and Chief Minister Raman Singh also inaugurated the nation's first One-Stop Centre at the District Hospital premises near Kalibadi in Raipur during her visit.
The Centre will provide counselling, guidance and protection for women who suffered domestic violence, sexual violence, rape, human trafficking, acid attacks, sexual harassment at work, child marriage and other cases. Minor girls also get help at the Centre.
Both Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and Chief Minister Raman Singh after the inauguration visited the facilities available at the Centre.
The women in distress will be provided all facilities under one roof. Emergency care will be given to the distressed women. Five-bed facility is available.