Bureaucrats create hurdles in issues related to funds and especially when the matter is relates to women, maintains none other than the Chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW), Rekha Sharma. Sharma was on two day official visit to state capital to see the status of implementation of schemes of central government. She met officials of women and child development department, social justice department and police etc besides meeting beneficiaries of central schemes.
The chairperson of NCW admitted that schemes suffer because of funding problem. “States insist on Central government to release their share while Centre asks the states to make provisions for funds first,” said Sharma here on Wednesday. She met chief secretary of the state and has asked him to strengthen the state women commission. This could be done by increasing honorarium and commission’s budget, she said. On being asked what was the problem in it, Sharma said it is not the politicians but the bureaucrats who create obstacles in work and especially when it is related to women.
Replying to a query, NCW chief said that Shivraj Singh Chouhan should stress more on women employment and their education rather than spending money on their marriages. “You should provide them education and employment, once they are self-dependent, marriage won’t be an issue for them,” said Sharma. Chouhan, notably had performed Kanyadan of 4.72 lakh women under CM Kanyadan Scheme.
Sharma said that she met chief secretary and took report of centrally sponsored schemes like Beti Bachao beti padao, one stop center, PM Matritva Vandana Scheme etc. Madhya Pradesh ranks number one in implementation of PM Matritva Vandana Scheme in India and has registered 6.96 lakh beneficiaries under this scheme. In a candid conversation, Sharma admitted that some schemes have been distorted with time and need correction. Giving example of Swadhar Greh Scheme, she said that it was a short stay rehabilitation program meant for women in distress but now it has been observed that women keep staying there for years.
They should be trained, financially empowered and brought back to the mainstream. “In MP number of Swadhar Greh rose to 41 from 17 whereas they should be present in all districts,” she said. Replying on a question related to harassment of women at work place, Sharma said that there is need to create more awareness and the teams should be sent to corporate houses and private industries to check the implementation of the Act.
