'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana', a scheme for women's emancipation

Government has introduced a new scheme -- Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao -- which will help in generating awareness and improving the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women with an initial corpus of Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion).

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced in his maiden Budget Speech that government would focus on campaigns to sensitise people of this country towards the concerns of the girl child and women.

He said that the process of sensitisation must begin early and therefore the school curriculum must have a separate chapter on gender mainstreaming.

Sharing the concerns of the members on Women’s safety, the Finance Minister informed the House that Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will spend Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million) on pilot testing a scheme for Safety of Women on Public Road Transport.

Similarly, Ministry of Home Affairs will spend Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) on a scheme to increase the safety of women in large cities.

The Finance Minister also proposed to set up Crisis Management Centres in all the districts of National Capital Territory of Delhi this year in all government and private hospitals.

The funding will be provided from the Nirbhaya Fund, the Minister added.

Text: PIB