Women’s empowerment prepares the ground for social developments at the grassroots level. The visionary leader Devendra Fadnavis, after returning as the Deputy CM and Finance Minister of the Maharashtra government, ending the two-and-a-half-year of misrule of the MVA, took some concrete steps promoting women’s empowerment in the state budget 2023-24.
This budget was historic in the sense that it was prepared by seeking people’s feedback, the first time for a state budget in India. Calling it a Panchamrut budget, Devendraji emphasized the five focus areas of this budget: agriculture, infrastructure, empowerment of women & backward communities, environment, and employment generation.
Although women’s empowerment has become an overused topic used by the political parties during elections, no serious attempts have been made to implement the same by any government in the past. In reality, the women’s class has never been considered separately in the budget. Breaking this tradition, Devendra Fadnavis decided to allocate a budget sanction especially for women’s empowerment schemes to truly change the lives of mothers and sisters in the state. Devendraji announced in his budget speech the need to create a comprehensive women’s empowerment policy for the government, which will be followed mandatorily by every government creating a separate budget provision every year.
50% discount for women in state transport bus fares
Mothers and sisters were so happy with the 50% discount on state transport bus fares that 80 lakh women took the bus ride in just one week, a testimony to the instant acceptance of the scheme by the numerous women and girl students who have to travel daily. A new scheme called ‘Lek Ladki’ has been launched, under which girls from yellow and orange ration card holder families will get subsidies at different stages of their lives, such as Rs 5,000 after birth, Rs 4,000 after entering class 4, Rs 6,000 after entering class 6, and Rs 8,000 after entering class 11. Finally, when the girl turns 18, she will be given Rs 75,000. With this decision, parents will now be freed from the financial stress of girls from poor families from birth to education.
Establishing SHGs to make women self-reliant
37 lakh women have achieved self-reliance through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). In the coming year, the state will provide space for SHGs in the Bamboo Cluster in Latur district, the Kolhapuri Chappal Cluster in Kolhapur district, and the Unity Mall in Mumbai. This initiative aims to further empower women’s SHGs by providing them with more opportunities to showcase and sell their products.
1 percent discount on stamp duty for women home buyers
The Maharashtra government announced the 1% concession in stamp duty for women home buyers in the state. The cut in stamp duty over the prevailing rate is accessible to women only if the transfer of the house or registration of sale deed is done in the name of one or more women.
In another development, Devendraji increased the remuneration of 81,000 ASHA workers and 3,500 group promoters. While the remuneration of ASHA workers has now been increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000, the remuneration of group promoters has been increased from Rs 4,700 to Rs 6,200. The remuneration of Anganwadi workers has been increased from Rs 8,325 to Rs 10,000, the remuneration of mini Anganwadi workers from Rs 5,975 to Rs 7,200, and the remuneration of Anganwadi helpers from Rs 4,425 to Rs 5,500. This enabled Devendraji to reach out and support different sections of women workers in the state.
New tourism policy for women’s safety
The government is also introducing a new tourism policy to ensure safe traveling for women in the state by building safe homestays or hostels for women, called ‘Matri Kondas,’ at strategic locations in every city, where even new working mothers can breastfeed their babies without hassles. 50 Shakti Sadans will be created across the state to provide food, clothing, and shelter to orphaned, abandoned, or other women who have been victims of sexual and domestic violence. Shakti Sadan centers will also provide legal services, education, training, and a monthly grant of Rs 500 to help the inmates stand on their feet. Destitute women are treated with dignity and also given opportunities to change their lives, thanks to Devendra Fadnavis.
The ‘homes are safe when mothers are safe’ program will be launched
The “Mata Surakshit Ghar Surakshit” (Safe Mother, Safe Household) program in Maharashtra aims to improve maternal and newborn health by promoting safe motherhood practices and reducing complications during pregnancy and childbirth. It’s a key initiative under the National Health Mission, focusing on institutional deliveries and post-delivery care for vulnerable women. 4 crore women and girls will be provided free medical check-ups and medication. Also, special medical check-ups of pregnant women will be done under the ‘Thyroid Mukt Maharashtra’ campaign. All these are not mere schemes for the sake of government statistics but are implemented on the ground with utmost sincerity. Devendraji allocated adequate funds to take good care of women throughout their life cycle, from the birth of a girl to her marriage and from the mother’s childbirth to her old age; firmly standing by the mothers and sisters in the state. It has also been decided that the premises of schools and colleges will come under the surveillance of CCTV cameras to prevent atrocities against women. Since the Shraddha Walker case, the government has taken the issue of ‘Love Jihad’ very seriously, with Devendraji announcing that the government will soon bring a strict law against it. Until the law is enacted, if such an incident occurs, the police will cooperate with the parents to contact their daughter and learn her free wishes. Thus, the lives of many girls in the state will be saved from being ruined.
Devendraji himself is a husband and father of a daughter. Devendraji gave complete freedom to his wife, Smt. Amrita Fadnavis, to build her career. This shows the seeds of respect for women and their empowerment have been sown at his home, which he wants to spread all over the state. This year’s budget of Devendraji has taken special care of the problems, aspirations, expectations, and needs of mothers and sisters in the state, with adequate measures on all fronts to address their problems and strengthen their contribution to society.