The finance ministry is all set to double the allocation for schemes for protection of women in 2013-14 budget. This comes in the backdrop of nationwide protests demanding women safety in the wake of the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old medical student in the Capital last December.
The ministry is likely to hike the allocation for a slew of schemes for protection and development of women to Rs 300 crore from Rs 150 crore in 2012-13. This will help the Women & Child Development (WCD) ministry to launch some of its long pending plans such as "One Stop Crisis Centre" to provide all kind of support - from medical to legal - to victims of rape and assault and compensation scheme for rape victims among others.
Besides, another Rs 20 crore is likely to be allocated to start the long talked about helpline for women in distress.
The overall allocation for the WCD ministry is likely to see a 10 % increase -- to a little over Rs 20,000 crore in 2013-14 - from Rs 18,500 crore last year. Sources in the finance ministry said that a bulk of WCD's allocation - a little over Rs 17000 crore - has been earmarked for Integrated Child Development Services, a crucial program to monitor health and nutrition of children in the 0-6 age group.
The ministry is likely to get Rs 65 crore for new schemes including Saksham, a program for empowerment of adolescent boys and setting up of National Institute of Women Affairs.
The ministry is likely to get Rs 65 crore for new schemes including Saksham, a program for empowerment of adolescent boys and setting up of National Institute of Women Affairs.