Manoj Khare

The concept of a progressive nation-state can be successfully put into practice only by empowering woman who is the axis of family, the first unit of society. It is very explicit and clear that without including women in the mainstream and providing children an opportunity to develop themselves naturally, the concept to establish a country as a developed nation on the world map would be a mere utopia.

That is perhaps why Hindi's famous poet\film lyricist Neeraj has sought to describe the key importance of children and mothers in a very impressive way. He has summed up the importance of mother in these couplet;

(Nothing, not even a place of pilgrimage, can be more pious than the lap of mother where even God has been brought up)

Similarly, Neeraj compares children with God in the following couplet;

Vey Bachche Ban Wishwa Mein, Vichar Rahe Sarvatra'

(The stars which have been separated from God's rosary, are roaming everywhere in the shape of children)

Last four years have borne witness to a revolutionary change in Madhya Pradesh that women of the state have found a new and real meaning of their lives. Since the character of our society is mired in paradoxes and discrepancies, womenfolk were languishing at the periphery despite being 50 per cent of the population. But now they have started to come out of the state of deprivation. This has been for the first time that the untold miseries of women have found expression.

This is due to the fact that the state government succeeded in identifying the real problems faced by womenfolk by studying them minutely. The government has also realised women's struggle for existence. Sex determination tests and killing of girl child's embryos had outraged women's honour and pride and they were on the brink of waging war for their own existence. They were being exploited in almost every field so much so that a woman labourer or worker had to be satisfied with less payment than her male counterpart for the same work as she was forced to provide two-time meal to her family. It was as if persecution by males instead of cooperation had become their fate.

The state government is determined to do away with all those practices and traditions which strengthen the foundation of discrimination against women and their exploitation. By formulating schemes helpful for women in every walk of life, the state government has proved that its efforts towards women's empowerment are not a mere sham. These efforts have offset the fact that the state government is in favour of equality in the inner core of society.

On the initiative of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, first Mahila Panchayat was held on July 30, 2006. The idea behind organising women's Panchayat had stemmed from state government's transparent thinking of eliciting those women's views, who are active at Panchayat and grass root levels, about the important schemes implemented by the state government for women's uplift and empowerment. Every section of society has appreciated this novel move of the state government. The proposals for women and child development given by women at the Mahila Panchayat included (1) Introduce Goadbharai scheme to facilitate pregnant women and help them in delivery, (2) Annaprashan scheme for introducing light food to a child when he is six-month-old (3) Starting Janma Divas (Birthday) programme for increasing people's interest towards Aanganwadis and (4) Improvement in the quality of nutritious food supplied at Aanganwadis (5) Balika Suraksha Yojana (Girl child security scheme), (6) Matra Shishu Raksha Card and many other innovative schemes. The state government has given practical shape to all these proposals. Now on the initiative of the state government, Aanganwadi Centres are abuzz with one festivity or another on every Tuesday.

One of major proposals made at Mahila Panchayat was setting of a women's desk in selective police stations in 38 districts. The state government has put a strict ban on sex determination tests by implementing PNDT Act with an iron hand. The state government has also announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for giving information of embryo sex determination test.

By introducing Ladli Laxmi Yojana, the state government has made a solid move for curbing the tendency of assuming a child as a burden. Though the scheme was implemented from April 1, 2007 but its benefits would percolate with retrospective effects from January 2006 to the girl child bequeathed to parents having two or less children. At the time of birth, National Saving Certificates would be purchased in the name of the girl child and Rs one lakh would be given to her when she attains the age of 21 years. So far 10,748 girls have been identified as beneficiaries under this scheme. Not only this, but the state government has also shown concern for the marriage of poor families' daughters and under Kanyadan scheme it has discharged the responsibility of marrying off 50 thousand girls belonging to poor families.

* 50 per cent reservation to women in the elections to local and civic bodies and recruitment of contract school teachers. Thirty per cent quota for women in the admission to medical education courses

* Mahila Panchayat was held for the first time in the state on July 30, 2006

* Thirty-one new child development schemes and 20,000 new Aanganwadi centres started during four years.

* Aanganwadi beneficiaries number goes up to 80 lakh from 65 lakh.

* New nutritious food policy introduced in Aanganwadis after 35 years.

* Now 20 types of dishes being served on the basis of local food model.

* Shaktimaan Yojana implemented in 19 districts gripped by extreme malnutrition

* Complimentary nutritious food's rate more than doubled.

* Well-applauded Ladli Laxmi Yojana benefits 11 thousand girls.

* Rs 161-core Tejaswini Yojana implemented in six districts for rural women's empowerment.

* Two Awards instituted for women for bravery and best achievement.

The state government has included women-related issues in its priority list. The government is fully determined that children and women in the state improve their standard of life and have all the opportunities to march ahead. The government-of-good-results has also to make mothers self-reliant and economically strong. For this express purpose, the state government allocated Rs 633.28 crore in its 2007-08 budget whereas the total budgetary allocation including supplementary demands was Rs 590.50 crore in the financial year 2006-07. Gender System was one of the most important inclusions in 2007-08 budget. A diehard votary to equality between males and females, the state government took and courageous and important decision to give 50 per cent reservation to women in the elections to local and civic bodies as well as recruitment of contract school teachers. Similarly, 30 per cent quota was fixed for women taking admission in any of the bachelor or post-graduate courses offered by autonomous medical colleges in the state. The state government discussed women's problems at large by organising special Panchayat meetings in all the villages on the occasion of Maharani Laxmi Bai's martyrdom day.

The state government also implemented the new Nutritious Food Policy after 35 years and ensured that 20 types of dishes are served at Aangawadis on the basis of local food model. This has refurbished the image of Women and Child Development Department. This decision would benefit children from the age of six months to six years, expectant mothers and girl students at the Aangawadis. By increasing the rate of Complimentary Nutritious Food by more then double in October 2005, the state government has made its intentions clear about worthwhile improvement in the lives of women and children. Now a provision has been made to provide daily Rs two to each child from age of six months to six year, Rs 2.70 to child gripped by malnutrition and Rs 2.30 to expectant mother and girl student. About 15 lakh new beneficiaries have been benefited by this scheme so far. Dry fruits and Kheer-Puri are also served to the beneficiaries at Aangawadis on the occasion of festivals. In the financial year 2005 Rs 110 crore was allocated for nutritious food but this allocation was increased to Rs 300 crore in the budget for 2006-07.

Multi-dimensional efforts are being undertaken to eliminate malnutrition in the state. As many as nine campaigns have been organised under Bal Sanjivani Yojana to curb malnutrition in the state. As a result, rate of malnutrition in the state has come down to 48.17 from 57.57 per cent while serious malnutrition percentage has plummeted to a mere 0.78 from the alarming 5.50 per cent. Under the campaign weights of state's 80 lakh 70 thousand children were taken. For the first time Rs 5 crore provision was made in 2007-08 under Bal Sanjivani Abhiyan. The children identified as sick during Bal Sanjivani Abhiyan are taken care of and treated by experts under Bal Shakti Yojana. On the basis of data collected during Bal Sanjivani Abhiyan, excessive malnutrition rate was found among the children of 19 tribal-dominated children. Therefore, Shaktimaan Yojana has been implemented in those identified areas. This scheme is being implemented in 38 development blocks in 19 districts which would benefit 60 thousand children in 872 tribal-dominated and 125 other villages. Under Shaktimaan Yojana each child is given nutritious food worth Rs 6. Each Aanganwadi worker gets Rs 500 more while assistant maid is given additional Rs 250. Women and Child Development Department has entered into an agreement with State Bank of Indore to ensure timely payment of funds to Aanganwadi workers to arrange nutritious food.

In Madhya Pradesh 336 child development schemes were operative in the year 2006-07. Now 31 more schemes have been added. During the last two years, 20,000 new Aanganwadi centres have been opened in addition to 49,787 centres which were already working. Now the number of Aaganwadi centres stands at 69,238 under 367 schemes. The Aanganwadi services now reach villages having a population of 1000 in general areas and 700 in tribal-dominated areas. Preparations are afoot to launch eight-member Sahyogini Matra Samitis with a view to increasing public participation in the distribution of nutritious food at Aangawadis. There is a plan to involved about five lakh women in the proposed scheme.

With the rise in the number of Aanganwadi centres the number of beneficiaries has also increased from 65 lakh to 80 lakh. With a view to keeping a constant watch on the health of children and expectant mothers, 50 lakh Matra and Shishu Suraksha Cards have been distributed. Over four lakh pregnant women have availed of the benefits of Janani Suraksha Yojana. Buildings of about 2500 Aanganwadi centres have been constructed. These days 14200 Aanganwadi centres have their own buildings. The pay scales of Aanganwadi works and maid assistants have been raised by Rs 300 and Rs 150 respectively and 40,000 women are being provided employment in 20,000 new Aanganwadis.

The state government has kept the interests of Aanganwadi workers and maid assistants in mind. Fifty per cent posts of Contract Surveyors have been reserved for Aanganwadi workers. The Aanganwadi workers and maid assistant putting up best services under Bal Sanjivani Abhiyan would be given away awards. Complaint Disposal Centres have been set up at development block, district and state levels. Rs 100 extra is paid to Aanganwadi workers for distribution of double fortified salt to beneficiaries.

The state government has also shown concerned towards well-being and protection of children. On the lines of Bhopal-situated Bal Bhawan, such institutions for children would be opened in six more districts. During 2006-07 10,000 child marriages have been prevented. Assistance Centres would be opened this year for providing security to women against domestic violence. Rs 2.92 crore would be spent on these centres.

For women's economic and social empowerment, the Women's Finance and Development Corporation has taken the help of International Agriculture Development Fund to implement Rs 161 crore Tejaswini Grameen Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana in six districts including Balaghat, Mandla, Dindori, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur and Panna.

Twelve thousands groups of women would be empowered under this scheme. For this eight-year scheme Rs 56.74 crore would be provided by IPED, Rs 5.41 by the state government and Rs 1.27 crore from NABARD.

Legal proceedings have been completed to constitute Bal Ayog for giving special attention to children's education and health in deference to central government's instructions.

Madhya Pradesh government has instituted two awards for women. Rani Avantika Bai Veerta Puraskar would be given to the woman who puts in her best efforts to save women and children from torture, their rehabilitation and to curb social evils. Another award, Rajmata Shrimant Vijayaraje Scindia Puraskar would be given for best services in the field of education, health, literacy, environment improvement, conduction of economic activities, making aware women of their rights and social uplift. The first Rani Avantika Bai Veerta Puraskar was bestowed on Ku. Anita Lodhi of Panna while Indore's Shrimati Manorama Joshi went away with the first Shrimant Vijayaraje Scindia Puraskar.