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Gujarat Boosts Women & Child Welfare with Rs 7,690 Crore Budget Push

The Gujarat government has announced a substantial allocation of Rs 7,690 crore for the Women and Child Welfare sector in its budget. Key initiatives include building 2,000 modern Anganwadi centres and expanding the Doodh Sanjivani milk scheme to 53 tribal blocks. The plan incorporates technology like an AI-powered attendance system and QR codes on ration packets for enhanced transparency and monitoring. Programs like Balika Panchayat aim to foster leadership in adolescent girls.

Key Points: Gujarat Allocates Rs 7,690 Crore for Women & Child Welfare

  • Rs 7,690 crore allocation
  • 2,000 new child-friendly Anganwadis
  • Doodh Sanjivani expansion in tribal areas
  • AI & QR codes for monitoring
2 min read

Gujarat allocates Rs 7,690 crore for Women and Child Welfare in budget

Gujarat's budget allocates Rs 7,690 crore for Anganwadi upgrades, nutrition schemes, and AI monitoring to strengthen women and child welfare.

"to further strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Suposhit Bharat' - Gujarat Government Release"

Gandhinagar, February 26

Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, an allocation of Rs 7,690 crore has been made for the Women and Child Welfare sector to further strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Suposhit Bharat'.

A press conference was held in Gandhinagar, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Women and Child Welfare, Manisha Vakil, to provide detailed insights regarding it.

According to a press release, a provision of Rs 360 crore has been made for building 2,000 new Anganwadi centres to enhance infrastructure. Anganwadi centres will be built on a 'Child-Friendly' concept, featuring modern amenities such as modular furniture, RO machines, LED TV screens, and rainwater harvesting.

Doodh Sanjivani Scheme will be expanded to cover 53 blocks in tribal areas. A provision of Rs 38.64 crore has been made to enhance the nutritional value of milk by increasing its fat content from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent, and to 4.5 per cent based on a pilot project in Narmada, Dahod and Dang districts.

As per the release, Rs 16 crore has been allocated for 'Poshan Sangam' programs to intensify home-based care and regular health assessments for underweight children. A 'Poshan Pragati and Inspection Centre' will be set up to ensure rigorous monitoring of Anganwadi services and nutrition levels.

To enhance transparency and oversight, an AI-powered image processing system has been implemented for tracking Anganwadi attendance. As a measure to strengthen monitoring and prevent misuse, QR codes will be placed on Take Home Ration (THR) packets for seamless digital tracking, said the release.

An allocation of Rs 1.03 crore has been made for the 'Balika Panchayat' scheme, aimed at developing leadership qualities in adolescent girls and raising awareness about Panchayati Raj and child rights.

As per the release, outstanding Balika Panchayats at the Taluka, District, and State levels will be felicitated. Rakesh Shankar, Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, along with senior departmental officials, was present at the press conference.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Rs 7,690 crore sounds impressive, but the real test is delivery. The QR code on ration packets is a good idea to prevent leakage. Let's see if the 'Poshan Sangam' programs actually reach the underweight children in remote villages. Execution is key.
M
Meera T
As a mother, I'm most happy about the Doodh Sanjivani expansion and increasing the fat content. Proper nutrition in early childhood is everything. The Balika Panchayat scheme is also brilliant for building confidence in our girls. More power to them! 💪
A
Aman W
Good budget, but I have a respectful criticism. While new infrastructure is welcome, what about the salaries and training for the Anganwadi workers? They are the backbone of this system. Hope future allocations address their welfare directly.
S
Sarah B
The use of technology for transparency—AI for attendance, QR codes—is very forward-thinking. It's important that these high-level allocations translate into real-world impact for women and children's health. The monitoring centre will be crucial.
K
Karthik V
Focusing on tribal areas for the milk scheme is the right thing to do. Nutrition gaps are highest there. Building 2000 new centres is a massive task. Hope the contractors don't compromise on quality. Jai Hind!

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