Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Development, Rekha Arya, presented Uttarakhand's blueprint to the Central Government on the role of the country's half-population in making India a developed nation by 2047.
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has presented a blueprint to the Central Government, highlighting the significant role of women in making India a developed nation by 2047. Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Development, Rekha Arya, put forth more than 20 suggestions in this roadmap to the Central Government, including proposals for the female workforce, child development, and converting Anganwadi centers into day-boarding schools.
On Friday, Minister Rekha Arya virtually participated in a meeting chaired by Union Minister Annapurna Devi from the HRDC Auditorium of the Secretariat. She stated that the participation and empowerment of women are not merely social reforms but are also essential for the country's economic and developmental journey.
Suggestion to Increase Women's Participation in Workforce
Uttarakhand recommended increasing women's participation in the workforce to 50 percent, on the lines of Europe. Minister Rekha Arya stated that women should be strengthened through technical skills and training, giving them the opportunity to play a more active role in the workforce. Additionally, it is essential to include technical skills in employee qualifications.
The Minister emphasized the need to operate Anganwadi centers as day-boarding schools. Through these centers, children's nutrition, education, and healthcare can be ensured. She suggested developing a system to ensure the grading and quality of Anganwadi centers.
Nutrition, Health, and Budgetary Provisions
A proposal was made to revise the nutritional standard rate for infants and increase the budget for the repair of Anganwadi centers from three thousand to ten thousand. Furthermore, it was suggested that under MNREGA, 80 percent of the budget for Anganwadi center construction be reserved for materials and 20 percent for laborers. Minister Rekha Arya recommended incorporating a face reading system and OTP into the Take Home Ration scheme. Additionally, there was a demand to make the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana portal user-friendly.
Uttarakhand recommended extending the Kishori Balika Pariyojana (Adolescent Girls Project) to all districts and placing a special focus on skill development. Under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save Girl Child, Educate Girl Child) campaign, a proposal was made to provide scholarships to girls for vocational training and preparation for competitive examinations.
