Gujarat Government Welfare Schemes
The schemes launched by central and state governments of India for alleviation of poverty, general welfare and rural development.
The ministries of the Government of India have come up with various government programs called schemes (Yojana) from time to time. These schemes could be either Central, state specific or joint collaboration between the Centre and the states.
Gujarat Government Welfare Schemes
Under Article 15(3), the Constitution of India allows for positive discrimination in favor of women. The article, under right to equality, states that: "Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children. In addition, the Directive Principles of State Policy 39(A) states that: "The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood."
Also Read : Government schemes for Children
The Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (National Credit Fund for Women)was set up in 1993 to make credit available for lower income women in India. More recent programs initiated by the Government of India include the Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS), the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana, Conditional Maternity Benefit plan (CMB), as well as the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls – Sabla.
The Mother and Child Tracking System was launched in 2009, helps to monitor the health care system to ensure that all mothers and their children have access to a range of services, including pregnancy care, medical care during delivery, and immunizations. The system consists of a database of all pregnancies registered at health care facilities and birth since 1 December 2009.
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY), Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB) is a scheme sponsored by the national government for pregnant and lactating women age 19 and over for their first two live births. The programme, which began in October 2010, provides money to help ensure the good health and nutrition of the recipients. As of March 2013 the program is being offered in 53 districts around the country.
The Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls – Sabla is an initiative launched in 2012 that targets adolescent girls. The scheme offers a package of benefits to girls between the age group of 10 to 19. It is being offered initially as a pilot programme in 200 districts. It offers a variety of services to help young women become self-reliant, including nutritional supplementation and education, health education and services, and life skills and vocational training.
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (The National Credit Fund for Women) was created by the Government of India in 1993. Its purpose is to deliver women from lower income group with access to loans to begin small businesses .
Priyadarshini, initiated in April 2011, is a programme that offers women in seven districts access to self-help groups.
