Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday announced an award of Rs one lakh in the name of Aruna Shanbaug, the nurse who was raped and gagged with a dog chain that left her in a coma for 42 years.
She died yesterday at the KEM Hospital in Mumbai.
"Madhya Pradesh government will give an award of Rs one lakh every year to a person working in the field of crime against women in the memory of Aruna Shanbaug," Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, announcing the award at the Second Women Panchayat, held at his official residence here.
The panchayat was organised to announce new women's policy and mitigate problems faced by women in the state.
The mahila panchayat also observed two minutes silence in memory of Shanbaug, whose medical condition for over four decades had evoked debate on euthanasia across the country.
Chouhan, on the occasion also announced that 33 per cent reservation will be provided to women in police force and said the state government will consider providing the same in other government jobs as well.
The Chief Minister said special health camps will be
organised for women every year and government's flagship 'Beti Bachao Abhiyan' (Save Daughter campaign) will be launched afresh in the state.
It will also be included in the school curriculum, he said.
Unveiling the state's New Women's Policy-2015, Chouhan said under the policy, a scheme will be run in which a sum of Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,250 will be provided at divisional and district-headquarters level, respectively, to girl coming from nearby places to attend coaching classes.
He also said the government will make arrangements for girls attending such classes, preparing for various all-India level competitive examinations. Facilities will be rendered to meritorious female students for higher education.
A police helpline service will be started for women, who in case of an emergency in night have to halt in a city or town and do not have proper accommodation, Chouhan said, adding that by calling on the helpline number, female cops will ensure that women get safe accommodation for their stay.
"Each year employment-oriented training will be imparted to 50,000 girls and the government will also take their loan guarantees under Youth Entrepreneur Scheme, beside giving subsidy of six per cent on interest," he said.
Under the new policy, creches will be set up in all district headquarters and women government employees will be granted two years maternity leave in entire service period.
To encourage birth of girl child, Chouhan announced to award those villages where number of newborn girls were more than the number of male child.
A number of other measures, including setting up Usha Kiran centres for victims of violence, Shorya Dal plan in 51 districts and registering incidents of misbehaviour against female employees at workplace in a confidential report, were also announced.
Women and Child Development Minister, Maya Singh highlighted on the occasion achievements of the first Women Panchayat and said 14 announcements made during the previous panchayat have been fulfilled.
