The Hindu : National : Empowering women in Himachal Pradesh

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Empowering women in Himachal Pradesh

Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA: For empowering women in the hill State, the new Government here has declared a 50 per cent reservation for them in all Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, claimed an official spokesman here on Saturday.

He said the Governments decision to enhance the social security pension from Rs 200 to Rs. 300 a month would benefit at least 68,455 widows in the State. As much as Rs. 11,001 is being provided to poor and helpless girls as marriage grant under the Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojna and Rs. 25,000 grant to young widows for their remarriage. A financial assistance of Rs. 1,000 a year is being provided to widows, helpless and divorcee women to bear the expenses of two children besides social security pension under the Mother Teresa Asahay Matri Sambal Yojna, he said. The State Government is spending about Rs. 30 crore every year on various programmes aimed at welfare and upliftment of women of the State.

The spokesman said that the Government has announced to generate employment and self employment avenues for unemployed girls and women in order to make them self dependent.

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