Budget allots Rs 1.84 lakh crore to women, child welfare in FY18

For the welfare of women and children under various schemes across all Ministries, Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, in his budget speech on Wednesday said that the allocation has been increased to Rs 1,84,632 crores in 2017-18.

In last year’s budget, the Ministry had allotted Rs 1,56,528 crores for the welfare of women and children.

Jaitley announced setting up of Mahila Shakti Kendra at village level with an allocation of Rs 500 crores in 14 lakh ICDS Anganwadi Centres.

“These centres will  provide one stop convergent support services for empowering rural women with opportunities for skill development, employment, digital literacy, health and nutrition,” Ministry of Finance said.

Jaitley reiterated PM Modi’s December 31 announcement that Rs 6,000 each will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of pregnant women who undergo institutional delivery and vaccinate their children.