Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac’s budget presented in the assembly on Friday had in mind women’s welfare beccause he earmarked Rs 1,250 crore for women including a she-lodge in Kochi at a cost of Rs 4.8 crore. The budget said that the lack of necessary common amenities was a hurdle to increasing women’s participation. Rs 25 crore including the Central share was provided for the construction of working women’s hostels and short stay homes in 14 districts. Apart from this, a fund to the tune of Rs 4.8 crore from the Kerala State Housing Board was also provided for this purpose.
The Labour Department would set up studio apartments for women. Importance has been given in the plan to set up creches in work places. Besides, steps will be taken to provide women friendly toilets in public places such as Government offices, Police Stations and Schools. Common toilets for women in markets and pathways, though announced in the previous two budgets, could not be constructed. These will not be mere toilets. These will be a rest room, cafe and essential stationery selling centres also. Besides fee collection, profit from these sales will also be used for ensuring reasonable income to those who are employed to clean.
A project will be formulated to make available a considerable portion of the investment from the advertisement expenses of State Lotteries to any agency including a Local Self-Government Institution willing for such a business model. Renovation of toilet facilities in petrol pumps and extending the facility to the public will also be discussed with oil companies. Rs 10 crore is additionally earmarked for giving special financial assistance for those Panchayats, which undertake Women Friendly Village Projects based on crime-mapping and gender reporting. Rs three crore is set apart for providing immediate relief to the survivors of atrocities.
Rs five crore is earmarked for the construction of Nirbhaya Homes to rehabilitate survivors of atrocities who require special treatment and those suffering from severe mental agony. There will be very talented children among them. Rs. 3 crore is earmarked for constructing ‘Thejomaya’ Homes in association with the Kerala Academy for Skill and Excellence for providing modern training in order to encourage and inspire their talent for reaching the best employment avenues based on their skills. Rs.20 crore is additionally provided for renovation of shelters for women and the aged, said the budget.
Snehasparsam’, the monthly assistance scheme to unmarried mothers, is enhanced to Rs 2,000 from Rs 1,000. Another aspect of the women development approach in the 2018-19 budget is the endeavour to increase women participation in the modern industrial sector. Rs 20 crore is provided for women entrepreneur schemes including the IT sector. Naturally, skill development is important. Rs 12 crore has been provided for establishing a Centre for Excellence in the Gender Park. Rs 3 crore is provided for WomenFed. There is a plan to establish 500 modern coconut fibre mills for women. The current year’s plan provision for protection of traditional sectors where women are employed is more than that of the previous years.
