On the occasion of International Women's Day on Thursday (March 8), Chief Minister Raman Singh has extended hearty greetings to all the women and other citizens.
In his message released on the eve of International Women's Day here, Singh said that this day has become the symbol of women empowerment and self-esteem of women across the world. This day also brings the message of gender equality in our society.
He said : “like other states of the country, women of Chhattisgarh are also leading and playing decisive role in every sector be it economic and educational development.”
The State Government has taken numerous effective steps in the direction of women empowerment in last 14 years. Women are given 50% reservation in three-tier panchayats, but women are getting elected in gram panchayats, Janpad panchayats and district panchayats in large numbers, empowering Panchayati raj system with their leadership and playing important role in development of villages, Singh said.
Women are also enthusiastically playing active role in building healthy Chhattisgarh under Clean India Mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. Women in Chhattisgarh have taken up leadership roles in several social awareness campaigns such as literacy Campaign, Beti Bachao Beti Padao campaign etc. State Government's scheme of free distribution of bicycles to girl students of high schools has resulted in increase in number of girls taking admission in high schools from 65% to 93%, the Chief Minister said.
Singh said that the State Government has given top priority to women in schemes of various departments. State Government has also given one per cent rebate in stamp duty on registry of land-property in the name of women.
This provision came into effect from year 2008 and till date rebate of total Rs 431.79 crore has been given on more than 5.60 lakh registry documents in the name of women.
He said that the State Government has initiated several schemes for betterment of women health through aanganbadi centres. Under Mahtari Jatan Yojana started in May 2016, pregnant women are provided fresh nutritious food free of cost six days a week.
Nearly 1.60 lakh women are availing this facility Singh said adding "under Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana conducted since year 2005, wedding ceremonies of more than 70,000 daughters of poor families has been organized and financial aid of Rs 73 crore has been provided."
The Chief Minister also said that women empowerment through women self-help groups has become a public movement in state. loans worth nearly Rs 69 crore have been provided to 32 ,855 self-help groups from Chhattisgarh Mahila Kosh in last 14 years, for various trades, he said.
Chief Minister said that the State Government has provided total concession in tuition fee for girl education upto college-level.
With the support of Central Government, Chhattisgarh Government has established Sakhi- One Stop Centres in all 27 districts of state in nearly two-and-a-half year, to help women in crisis, he said.
In Durg and Koriya district of state, Police Mahila Swayam Sevika Yojana (Chetana) has been started, for which more than nine thousand women have been selected, the Chief Minister said.
He said that in August 2016, under the priority scheme of Prime Minister- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Chhattisgarh Government has provided smoke-free kitchen to nearly 18 lakh women of poor families, against the target of 35 lakh. These beneficiaries have been provided gas connection, double burner stove and first filled cylinder at the nominal registration cost of Rs 200.
Under Shuchita Yojana, vending machines have been installed in more than 2000 schools of rural areas of 20 districts to provide sanitary napkins to girl students, Singh said.
This scheme has begun to yield positive results, in view of which this scheme will be expanded to all high schools, higher secondary schools and colleges with sufficient number of girls, in new fiscal year, which will benefit nearly 10 lakh girls, he said.