Grants of Over ₹9,820 Crore Approved for Minister Lakshmi Rajwade’s Departments

Raipur, March 11

Today, in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, grant demands amounting to ₹9,820 crore for the financial year 2025-26 were approved for the departments under Minister Smt. Lakshmi Rajwade. This includes ₹8,245 crore for the Women and Child Development Department and ₹1,575 crore for the Social Welfare Department.

Women and Child Development Department
Minister Lakshmi Rajwade informed the Assembly that the Mahtari Vandan Yojana aims to strengthen women economically and socially. The initial budget allocation for this scheme in the last financial year was ₹3,000 crore, which has now been increased to ₹5,500 crore for 2025-26. Additionally, ₹4.90 crore has been allocated for e-KYC under the scheme.

The minister also announced a ₹10 crore budget for daycare centers for working women’s children, focusing on their nutrition and intellectual development. ₹5.11 crore has been allocated for implementing laws related to women’s safety and protection. Furthermore, ₹1.50 crore has been allocated for public awareness campaigns under the Child Marriage-Free Chhattisgarh initiative.

A ₹50 crore budget has been allocated for repairs and strengthening of electrical infrastructure in Anganwadi centers and departmental buildings. Of this, ₹2 crore has been specifically set aside to provide electricity to Anganwadi centers operating in government buildings. Additionally, ₹700 crore has been allocated for the expansion and operation of Anganwadi services in 2025-26.

Under the “PM Janman” scheme, 80 settlements have Anganwadi centers, with ₹11.40 crore allocated for their operation. A ₹500 crore budget has been proposed for the salaries and other benefits of Anganwadi workers and assistants. The government has also launched the “Samman Suvidha System” to ensure digital and centralized payments for these workers.

A ₹700 crore budget has been set aside to provide nutritious food through Anganwadi centers. In 2025-26, 6,740 Anganwadi centers will be upgraded using central and state funds. Furthermore, ₹18 crore has been allocated for constructing 150 Anganwadi buildings in urban areas, while ₹40 crore has been allocated for 2,000 Anganwadi buildings in rural areas under the MGNREGA scheme.

To promote menstrual hygiene, ₹13 crore has been allocated for installing sanitary napkin vending and incineration machines in schools and colleges. A ₹125 crore budget has been allocated for the implementation of the Nutrition Campaign in 2025-26.

For the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, a target of 8,000 marriages has been set, with ₹40 crore allocated for the scheme.

To expand loan benefits for self-help groups, ₹5 crore has been allocated to the Chhattisgarh Mahila Kosh. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme has received a budget of ₹5.03 crore. Additionally, ₹20 crore has been allocated for establishing six new Sakhi One-Stop Centers.

Under Mission Shakti, state and district-level Women Empowerment Centers will be established, with ₹11.58 crore allocated. The Shakti Sadan scheme will receive ₹3.39 crore for operations.

Focusing on infrastructure development, ₹11.82 crore has been allocated under Mission Vatsalya for constructing two Vatsalya Bhavans, 16 Child Welfare Buildings, 19 Juvenile Justice Board Buildings, and three new Observation Homes.

For the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, over ₹100 crore has been allocated. Other key allocations include ₹5 crore for women awareness camps, over ₹100 crore for Mission Vatsalya, and ₹5 crore for effective implementation of non-institutional child care. Additionally, the Chhattisgarh State Commission for Women has been allocated ₹4.85 crore for various programs.

Social Welfare Department
The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly has approved a ₹1,575 crore grant for the Social Welfare Department for 2025-26.

A state-of-the-art building for persons with disabilities is being constructed at Mana Camp with a budget of ₹5 crore. The special school in Jashpur Nagar is being upgraded to the higher secondary level, with ₹2.50 crore allocated for this.

For education and training of persons with disabilities, ₹38.89 crore has been allocated, accounting for 2.47% of the total budget. A ₹5 crore grant has been allocated for modernizing the Artificial Limb Manufacturing Center at Mana to make it an international-quality facility.

At the district level, ₹4.15 crore has been allocated for guidance, treatment, resources, and services for persons with disabilities. Additionally, ₹3.50 crore has been allocated for 12 Gharonda Shelter Homes. The State Resource and Rehabilitation Center has received over ₹1 crore to enhance its capabilities.

For pension schemes, ₹1,395 crore has been allocated, while ₹20 crore has been set aside for the National Family Assistance Scheme.

Under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yojana, widows and abandoned women have now been included as beneficiaries, with ₹15 crore allocated for the scheme. The Senior Citizen Assistance Scheme has received over ₹4 crore.

A new de-addiction program, “Bharat Mata Vahini”, has been launched, with ₹10 crore allocated for its implementation.