Anandiben touch in Gujarat Budget

With Anandiben Patel taking charge of Gujarat as the first woman chief minister of the state, the budget presented in the state assembly today focused on women empowerment apart from social sectors like rural development and irrigation.

The state budget, presented by finance minister Saurabh Patel in state assembly today, includes various schemes, incentives and focus on women empowerment and development.

This could be gauged from the fact that the government announced its plan to double the number of milk producers co-operative societies operated by women.

Also, women breeder members willing to purchase milch animals under loan schemes of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), will be given five per cent interest subvention up to three years.

As an additional support, further three per cent interest subvention shall be given to women members on their regular payment of bank loan instalments.

In another pioneering move, the state government has decided to reserve 33 per cent posts for the women in the recruitment of police forces.

"At the same time, our Government shall also ensure that its efforts towards economic and social empowerment of women are reflected in each and every activity the Government undertakes," Patel said.

Hence, the state government has turned its focus on women in the milk 77co-operatives space.

Women breeder members milk co-operatives will be given aid upto 75 per cent of the cost with an upper limit of Rs 33, 750 and Rs 15,000 for the purchase of milking machine and shaff cutter respectively.

Plus, an aid up to 33 per cent with an upper limit of Rs 500 for the insurance premium shall be given to women breeders who insure the milch animals.

On the healthcare front,a provision of whopping Rs 2,436 crore has been proposed for the health, development, protection and empowerment of women and children.

Women and children have further reason to cheer, as the government has provisioned for Rs 160 crore for free of cost treatment to women and children up the age of 21 years in families that have an annual income of less than Rs 1.2 lakh.