Gujarat allocates Rs 7,690 crore for Women and Child Welfare in budget

A press conference was held in Gandhinagar, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Women and Child Welfare, Manisha Vakil, to provide detailed insights regarding it.

According to a press release, a provision of Rs 360 crore has been made for building 2,000 new Anganwadi centres to enhance infrastructure. Anganwadi centres will be built on a 'Child-Friendly' concept, featuring modern amenities such as modular furniture, RO machines, LED TV screens, and rainwater harvesting.

Doodh Sanjivani Scheme will be expanded to cover 53 blocks in tribal areas. A provision of Rs 38.64 crore has been made to enhance the nutritional value of milk by increasing its fat content from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent, and to 4.5 per cent based on a pilot project in Narmada, Dahod and Dang districts.

As per the release, Rs 16 crore has been allocated for 'Poshan Sangam' programs to intensify home-based care and regular health assessments for underweight children. A 'Poshan Pragati and Inspection Centre' will be set up to ensure rigorous monitoring of Anganwadi services and nutrition levels.

To enhance transparency and oversight, an AI-powered image processing system has been implemented for tracking Anganwadi attendance. As a measure to strengthen monitoring and prevent misuse, QR codes will be placed on Take Home Ration (THR) packets for seamless digital tracking, said the release.

An allocation of Rs 1.03 crore has been made for the 'Balika Panchayat' scheme, aimed at developing leadership qualities in adolescent girls and raising awareness about Panchayati Raj and child rights.

As per the release, outstanding Balika Panchayats at the Taluka, District, and State levels will be felicitated. Rakesh Shankar, Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, along with senior departmental officials, was present at the press conference. (ANI)