BHUBANESWAR: Though more than Rs 10,000 crore has been spent by the State Government under different schemes for the welfare of women and children in the last five years, their lot does not seem to have improved noticeably during the period.
While Rs 1100 crore has been spent for the welfare of women during 2010 to 2015, Rs 8,964 crore has been spent for children in the same period under various schemes and programmes.
The Women and Child Development (WCD) department has provided assistance to lakhs of Women Self-help Groups (SHGs) during these years while the State Government has provided nutritious food to pregnant women and infants between the age group of six months to six years under different schemes.
Committees have also been set up at the State and district levels for providing security to orphans. Sources in the WCD department maintained that 13 special adoption agencies are working in the State to rehabilitate them.The State Government has also launched operations like 'Muskan' and 'Smile' to rescue missing children. As many as 399 registered childcare agencies are working for rehabilitation of abandoned and orphaned children in the State. Besides, the State Government is also providing financial assistance of Rs 2,000 per month to inmates of 89 childcare agencies.
Besides, Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards are also working for security of children in the State. The State Government has implemented Central scheme 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' to address the issue of declining sex ratio. The scheme aims at generating awareness and improving the efficiency of welfare services meant for women. Several initiatives have been launched for safety of girl child.
One stop centre 'Sakhi' is working in the Capital Hospital for providing quick service to victims of domestic violence and special units have been constituted in the districts to prevent children and women trafficking.