Dehradun: For empowering women, Uttarakhand
government has increased the gender budget by nearly Rs 200
crore for 2010-11.
Concerned over the skewed sex ratio in the state, the
state government has earmarked Rs 1417.75 crore for gender
budget, meant for women empowerment through various schemes.
The allocated amount for 2010-11 is nearly 17.65 percent
more than the previous fiscal when it was Rs 1205.04 crore.
For the first time, Rs one crore has been allocated for
providing free gas connections to rural women while an equal
amount has been provided for employment-oriented plantation of
herbs like Harr, Bahera and Trifla.
The state government has also earmarked Rs 50 lakh for
protecting women against domestic violence, while Rs 5 lakh
each has been provided for constructing homes for mentally
challenged women and promoting widow marriage.
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank while presenting
the budget last evening had expressed the government`s
commitment to take women forward. For this purpose, he said Rs
296.49 crore has been proposed for the women empowerment and
child development departments.
There are only 906 girls against 1000 boys as per the
2001 census, he said.
PTI
