— Photo: Kamal Narang

ALL SMILES: Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni (left) being greeted by her predecessor Renuka Chowdhury, while assuming office in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni on Monday said every effort should be made to take advantage of the awe and curiosity India inspired among people all over the world with its ancient and diversified culture, world heritage sites and the great variety offered to visitors.

Ms. Soni took charge of the Ministry from Renuka Chowdhury, who now heads the Women and Child Development Ministry. She said she would ensure continuation of important initiatives taken by the Tourism Ministry in the past 18 months. She directed the officials to work out a plan of action to realise the potential of the tourism sector for growth and employment generation.

``Constant interaction required''

Ms. Soni said the Tourism Minister must interact constantly with the Ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Home, Health, Railways, Shipping and Road Transport and the State Governments to sustain the high rate of growth.

Till now Congress general secretary, Ms. Soni said she saw her new assignment as yet another challenge.

Asked whether she had any new idea for her Ministry, she said there was a lot of scope for work and favoured continuation of the process for which her predecessor had laid the foundation.

Creches for sex workers' children

Ms. Chowdhury said she would ensure that crèche facilities were provided to the children of sex workers.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch here of the revamped Rajiv Gandhi national Creche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers — her first official function after assuming charge of the Ministry — she said she would speak to sex workers and take their opinion on where the crèches should be opened.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh launched the scheme.

On legalising prostitution, she said it was a debatable issue and involved many stakeholders, though giving licence would eliminate pimps.

Certain amendments were proposed to widen the scope of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, focus on traffickers and the human rights of victims and to make implementation more effective.

Act to be implemented

Earlier, interacting with reporters, Ms. Chowdhury expressed concern over the declining sex ratio and described girls as an "endangered'' species. Checking this trend would be her priority, she said.

She would ensure implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, passed by Parliament in December 2005. Rules were being framed.

Another milestone

Another milestone, according to her, was the expansion of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme aimed at providing health, nutrition and learning opportunities to infants and mothers.

Under the new National Creche Scheme, 7,000 crèches would be set up by March 31 and allocated to the Central Social Welfare Board, the Indian Council for Child Welfare and the Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh.

Balanced coverage

Priority would be given to uncovered districts and tribal areas while extending the scheme to maintain balanced regional coverage. The financial support under the revised scheme has been increased from Rs. 18,480 to Rs. 42,384 a crèche a year. The scheme envisages the setting up of 14,719 new crèches during the remaining period of the 10th Five Year Plan.

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