Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Mar 27: Minister for women and child welfare and Kannada and culture Umashree on Sunday March 27 said that just as child welfare committee, woman welfare committee would also be started in the state this year, and that a transgender policy is also on the anvil.
Umashree was in the city to attend a programme of Devanga Samaj to which she belongs.
Prior to the programme, addressing party workers at the district Congress office, Umashree said, "Our government has initiated very good programmes for the welfare of the people. We have filled 98 percent of our promises already. The Kannada and culure department has utilized 98 percent of the grants for various programmes.
"Just like child welfare committee, woman welfare committee will also be started this year. We will be formulating a transgender policy and a policy for girls below 18 years in order to empower them," she said.
"The state women and child development department was the first in the country to waive off loans given to women through women corporations. Loans worth about Rs 11 crore have been waived so far.
"Zero-percent interest loans are given to women through the corporations. The loan amount has been increased to Rs 2 lac from Rs 1 lac. Devadasi pension has been increased to Rs 1,000 from Rs 500 per month. Also, home loan amount for women has been increased to Rs 1 lac from Rs 40,000," she added.
"A person who marries a differently-abled woman is given Rs 50,000 as incentive. Visually impaired women who have children up to 2 years of age are given Rs 2,000 every month as aid. People who are 75 percent handicapped have been given customized motorcycles, and more number of beneficiaries will be given motorcycles in the coming days.
"All this may sound simple, but these are humanitarian works we have undertaken and accomplished," she added.
On crimes against women, she said, "A person who commits rape more than once will be booked under Goonda Act. Provisions in the law have been already made in this regard. Special Treatment Cells for rape victims has been installed in 30 districts and necessary changes have been made in POCSO law.
"In case a child marriage takes place, then all officers concerned would be held accountable. This will enable the officers to take stern action against child marriage. The maximum punishment for those involved in child marriage was two years, with no minimum punishment. Now, the minimum punishment will be one year," she added.
"District-level Sthree Shakti organizations would be started wherein all the Sthree Shakti groups in the taluk would be brought under a single umbrella.
"Payment for artistes from the Kannada and culture deparment will be made through real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system in order to avoid the involvement of middlemen and corruption. The Kannada and culture department was the first to install e-office, thus making it paper-free," she informed.
Asked to respond to chairman of committee on safety of women and children V S Ugrappa's criticism the last time he visited Mangaluru, she said, "We have brought changes under Sthairya Nidhi scheme with regard to immediate relief for women who are sexually assaulted. The amount of immediate compensation has been increased to Rs 25,000, and on the reccomenation of doctors, provisions are made for compensation up to Rs 75,000.
"When Ugrappa came to Mangaluru, this scheme was not implemented properly, it was in the intial stage, so he might not have known about it. But now under Stairya Nidhi we have kept aside Rs 5 crore for this purpose.
"If a rape victim dies, compensation of Rs one lac would be given, and the same amount would be given to a victim of acid attack also, in addition to Rs 20 lac if she has to undergo plastic surgery," Umashree added.
Former mayor Ashraf, Congress district interim president Ibrahim Kodijal and others were present.