Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Feb 8: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Saturday said her ministry will extend all necessary assistance for the welfare of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as Anganwadi children in Goa.
The Union minister said she had met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and discussed key issues related to quality nutrition for children and the holistic development of women. She added that central schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Poshan 2.0 would be effectively implemented in the state.
Annapurna Devi is currently in Goa to highlight the key features of the Union Budget 2026-27, recently presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament.
She said the Poshan Tracker tool plays a crucial role in last-mile tracking of nutrition service delivery and enables targeted and closely monitored interventions under the Poshan 2.0 scheme.
The Union minister further stated that laws against child labour are firmly in place and are being implemented in coordination with state governments to protect children. She also noted that Juvenile Justice Boards play an important role in spreading awareness about child rights, rehabilitation measures and legal procedures concerning children.
Addressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party city headquarters in the presence of Union Minister Shripad Naik, state BJP president Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik and Rajya Sabha member Sadanand Tanavade, she said the budget for the upcoming financial year reflects the aspirations of the people.
“Trust-based governance and a human-centric economy form the core of this budget,” she said, adding that priority given to the tourism sector and the development of new waterways would significantly benefit Goa. She also said relief on seafood exports announced in the budget would help fish exporters in the state.
The Union minister said that to further strengthen women empowerment, the budget has introduced the C-Mart scheme, which will benefit self-help groups, women-led startups and women running micro enterprises.