Got everything we asked for: WCD min on Union budget

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi today expressed satisfaction with the budget allocation for the Women and Child Development Ministry following an increase in the funding for major schemes like the National Nutrition Mission for children and One-Stop Crisis Centre for women.
"We are very happy as we have got everything we asked for," Gandhi said in her reaction to the Union Budget, which was presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 29.
Setting up of One-Stop Centres for providing safety to women affected by violence is being significantly expanded in 2016-17, she said, adding that the target is to "open 150 such centres this year".

The allocation for this purpose has been enhanced from Rs 13 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 75 crore in 2016-17.
An allocation of Rs 360 crore has been made under the National Nutrition Mission as against Rs 65 crore last year. The budget also provided Rs 500 crore to under the Nirbhaya Fund.
The home ministry has approved four major projects planned by WCD ministry under the said fund, including the setting up of special units to investigate crimes against women in all states.

"The special investigation units will be paid for out of the Nirbhaya Fund. The home ministry has sanctioned the project," Gandhi said, adding that it will be implemented at a cost of Rs 324 crore.

The other three projects are creation of Central Victim Compensation Fund for supporting the states and Union Territories to implement a Victim Compensation Scheme, setting up of an organised investigation agency to deal with cases of trafficking, and opening of special units for north-eastern women to ensure support and protection for them.
"The ministry has been giving focused attention to the subject of trafficking of women and children and it has been decided that a comprehensive framework shall be established to combat the problem. A committee has been constituted to draft a new legislation and design an institutional framework for this purpose," an official said.