Maharashtra adopts women empowerment policy

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, MARCH 7. The Maharashtra Cabinet today approved `Women Policy 2001' which aims at the empowerment of five lakh women in the next five years, ensuring definite advantages to them in every government scheme and programme.

The policy provided for reservation in every important institution on the lines of civic bodies, establishment of women's body in every village and self-help groups.

Briefing presspersons about the decision, the Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, said the policy document was sent to the legal department for preparing a suitable legislation. Besides, a Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Social Welfare Minister, Mr. Jayantrao Awale, had been constituted for its implementation. All women Cabinet members would be its members.

The policy made it mandatory for all government, semi- government, cooperative and educational bodies to prepare action plans for women empowerment.

These bodies would make public, every year, their schemes on January 3, which is being celebrated as Savitribai Phule Stree Mukti Din in the State. Besides, the State Budget would have special financial provisions for a special component plan for women. At present, such plans exist for the welfare of tribals and downtrodden people. Mr. Deshmukh said municipalities and municipal corporations would be required to raise their outlay for the welfare of women and children from the present four per cent to ten per cent.

The Government would set up a women's fund from which micro- credits would be provided to them. A number of self- employment or cooperative group employment schemes would also be worked out.

The institutions which have one-third women members would get priority in getting government registration, recognition and grants. It would be mandatory for existing bodies to have at least three women members on their executives.

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Section  : National
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