Acceding to the proposal mooted by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Union government today gave approval for setting up of ITIs exclusively for the women to ensure their empowerment by imparting technical education to them.This decision was taken by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi, who called on the Chief Minister here at Kapurthala house this morning.The Union Minister also assured Mr. Badal that the Centre was ready to fund any scheme/ program aimed at the overall development and welfare of the Women and child in the state. She urged the Chief Minister to send a detailed proposal to her Ministry for the establishment of a network of ITIs across the state for imparting technical and vocational training to women for enabling them to be gainfully employed. Mrs. Gandhi hoped that this unique initiative would go a long way in instilling a sense of confidence amongst the women to live a life with self respect and dignity besides enormously contributing in the national growth.
She also impressed upon the Chief Minister to submit a comprehensive proposal to the Ministry for sanctioning the scheme of setting up “One Stop Crisis centers” in each district across the state to ensure prompt assistance to the women/ girl afflicted with gender crime. The Union Minister apprised Mr. Badal that under the scheme the state government was required to hand over 250-300 square yards of land to establish these centers by erecting pre-fabricated structures, the entire cost of which would be borne by the Union Government.During the deliberations with the Union Minister, Mr. Badal raised several demands seeking upward revision in honorarium of the Anganwari Workers and Helpers under ICDS scheme from Rs 5000 and Rs 2500 per month, which was highly unrealistic and unreasonable, to Rs 8000 and Rs 4000 per month respectively. The Chief Minister also pleaded for the introduction of Contributory pension scheme with a minimum monthly contribution @ 10% honorarium to facilitate retirement of workers and helpers at the age of 60 years, as demanded by the Anganwari Unions. He also sought liberal financial grant from the Government of India (GoI) for the construction of Anganwari centers in phased manner and asked for such grant @ Rs 4.50 lakh per building for the construction of 2000 centers during 2014-15. Mr. Badal informed the Union Minister that more than 25000 Anganwari centers were running in rented/ community/ panchayat buildings across the state.
The Chief Minister also raised the issue for reduction in maximum qualifying age besides doing away with the condition of minimum experience of Helper. He pointed out that under the prevalent instructions priority was given to a helper for appointment as Anganwari worker with a condition of having put in 10 years of service as a helper. Moreover the maximum age for recruitment of an Anganwari worker had also been substantially lowered to 35 years under the restructured ICDS scheme.Responding to the demands raised by the Chief Minister, Mrs. Gandhi appreciated the state government for doing exceptionally well in several schemes of Women and Child Development but still expected it to further excel in this regard. The Union Minister assured Mr. Badal that she would get all these demands thoroughly examined at her ministry’s level to ensure their early resolution. She promised Mr. Badal that paucity of funds would not be allowed to hamper the implementation of schemes and even said that the Ministry was ready to include pro-women and child development schemes of the state in its charter of such centrally sponsored schemes.he Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretaries Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.