Delhi Budget: Exclusive mohalla clinics for women, anganwadi hubs

In order to provide women with a larger role in the economy, and to assure them better health-care facilities, while ensuring their safety and security, the Delhi government proposed several women centric schemes in its budget presented on Tuesday

In order to provide women with a larger role in the economy, and to assure them better health-care facilities, while ensuring their safety and security, the Delhi government proposed several women centric schemes in its budget presented on Tuesday.

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The government has proposed to launch a new scheme -- Saheli Samanvay Kendra -- under which it will establish 500 anganwadi hubs in various parts of the city. These hubs will be used for imparting training to women to help them open micro-economic units and for holding meetings of self-help groups.

The decision to formulate such a scheme was taken on the basis of a survey which was conducted by the government to understand the impact of Covid-19 crisis and the subsequent lockdown on the livelihood of people in Delhi. The survey showed that before the pandemic, unemployment among women was 26% last February and it rose to 40% by February 2021.

The government has also proposed to set up 100 mahila (women) mohalla clinics across Delhi from next year where every woman in Delhi will get free gynaecology services and related diagnostic tests. “We all know that our mothers and sisters are not able to talk to us about their health issues openly. It is a fact of our society that women tend to neglect their own illnesses. The result of this is that many women live with ailments, assuming it as destiny. The Delhi government will now undertake the responsibility of having a Mahila Mohalla Clinic around every woman in Delhi,” finance minister Manish Sisodia said.

The government has also planned to set up 33 self-help units to make these women aware of government schemes, counsel and help them.

The budget also proposed a scheme to make tourist spots safer for women. CCTV cameras will be installed at entry points of all tourist spots and uniformed guards will be deployed there. An amount of ₹5 crore has been proposed in the budget for this purpose.

Debolina Kundu, professor at the national institute of urban affairs, said, “Allocating funds for employment generation among the women is a welcome move. The government has proposed schemes that are growth-driven. Also, the proposal of setting up women exclusive mohalla clinics is also a step in the right direction.”