SHILLONG, March 10: The NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government has kept women empowerment as its top priority by allocating the highest-ever budget of Rs 5,271 crore this year, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma made the allocation after acknowledging that women in Meghalaya are now demanding greater investment towards their uplift and empowerment.
“Rs 5,271 crore has been allocated for women. This budget has to be broken down to ensure that it reaches women organisations across the state,” she said, while adding that the government will have to ensure participation of women in various empowerment and livelihood programmes.
She observed that funding will be provided through the state rural livelihood societies for women and women oriented livelihood investment programmes.
“The government is going to invest 18% of the total allocation to improve healthcare facilities for women while 25% will be utilised towards community and rural development,” Lyngdoh said.
Since self-help groups are women oriented, it will be necessary for the government to invest adequately and correctly to better the lives of women involved with these groups, she added.
