8 Takeaways: What UP Budget Offers Women In The New Welfare Schemes

The UP Budget presented in the state assembly on Wednesday in Lucknow has created a positive buzz regarding the inclusion of schemes designed especially for and around women. However, it will be crucial to watch the implementation of these schemes which are spread across rural and urban sectors and departments in India's most populated state.

From women empowerment to welfare schemes, the recently announced UP Budget for 2023-2024 kept women as a central focus in the major strategies designed for the remaining year. With women finding prominence in the promises made towards their benefit and empowerment in the recent UP Budget, let's take a look at significant highlights around the same.

UP Budget For Women

1. Maintenance scheme for destitute widows

4032 crore rupees have been assigned for the maintenance of destitute widows. This plan ensures all efforts will be taken towards providing a nutritious diet to the widows in all capacities.

2. Women under the national nutrition mission

The state aims to support Anganwadi under the scheme with 25 crore rupees allotted toward them for their health insurance under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. The government plans to launch a national nutrition campaign aimed at reducing malnutrition in children in the age group of 6 years. The campaign also focuses on reducing anaemic levels in pregnant and lactating women. A budget of around 455 crore rupees has been allocated for the same.

3. Kanya Sumangala Yojana

The existing Kanya Sumangala Yojana was revamped with another 1050 crore rupees. The Yojana serves as a monetary benefit scheme designed for the girl child. The scheme offers monetary assistance to parents of two girl children in one family.

4. Employment and Entrepreneurship boost

In one of the most interesting schemes announced, the UP state government looks to now 63 crore rupees for the Mahila Samarthya Yojana. The Yojana aims to enable aspiring women entrepreneurs into establishing their own line of work part from empowering women across states to seek employment opportunities as per their qualifications.

5. Maternity scheme for women labourers 

The government is ensuring that the women labourers are not kept out of focus this time around as they will be subject t, not just maternity assistance but also minimum wages and medical bonuses. Women labourers registered for delivery under the  Maternity, Child and Support Scheme, will be liable for an amount equivalent to minimum wages of three months apart from the medical bonus of 1000 rupees. The spouses of registered male labourers who fall under the scheme's eligibility will also receive a lump sum of 6000 rupees under this plan.

6. Financial and medical assistance for survivors of crime 

Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populated state, is often in the news for crimes against women. The budget this year also focuses on prioritising the sustenance of female survivors of crime. The government has set aside 56 crore rupees for the medical and financial assistance that will be provided to young girls and women who have been survivors of crime and violence. This scheme falls under the UP Rani Laxmibai Mahila and Bal Samman Kosh Yojana.

7. Mass marriage scheme 

The government announced 600 crore rupees towards the CM's Mass Marriage scheme. The scheme entails 51000 rupees per beneficiary family. Breaking down the amount will involve 35000 rupees directly being deposited in the beneficiary’s bank account, 10000 rupees being directly sent to the family for the purchase of materials enlisted in the marriage purchase list, and 6000 rupees for the organising of rituals or events whatever the need be. Apart from this, a total of 150 crore rupees has been set aside for the marriage grant scheme which aims towards helping poor women who belong to other backward classes (OBCs).

8. Distribution of nutritious food

The budget brought forward a thorough ">plan with respect to the distribution of supplementary nutritious food among children and pregnant women. The plan devised will work towards providing supplementary based food to children belonging to the age group of 6 months to 6 years. Pregnant women and lactating mothers will also be able to benefit from the plan through the 'take-home ration' scheme that will enable them to receive supplements from UP Rural Livelihood Mission and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).

Suggested reading: Union Budget 2023: What Does It Entail For Women?