And judging by the novel projects launched by the state government, this does not appear to be hollow claim. But behind the confidence of Chief Minister lies a series of programmes for women's uplift and progress, analyses SMS News and Features.

Chouhan has announced that fifty percent offices in urban civic bodies and three-tier Panchayats would be reserved for women in the stateh. The CM says that now women do not lag behind in any field including administration. A Rani Durgawati Battalion has been raised in which women are being recruited. This would ensure availability of a woman constable in every police station, he added.

A number of schemes are being implemented for betterment of women, which are yielding very good results. The state government has taken upon itself the responsibility of marrying off the daughters of poor families under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana. It has also launched Ladli Laxmi Yojana to promote betterment of women. This would help change the mindset that women are a liability. Now, they would be considered as a boon and not a curse, says the CM. On the birth of a girl child a saving certificate is provided to her from the government. She gets Rs 2,000 at the time of her admission in the VI class and Rs 4,000 in IX class and Rs 7,000 in the XI class. On admission in the XI she is given Rs. two hundred every month for two years. On attaining the age of 21 years she would receive an amount of Rs. one lakh eighteen thousand.

Chouhan said that a number of programmes are being implemented for empowerment of women through Anganwadis. Janani Express is being made available in every block to take health care of women.

Women entrepreneurs: MP government's policies have inspired women entrepreneurs also. As a result, between April, 2005 to 2007, a period of approximately two and half years, 3175 women have set up industries in Madhya Pradesh. Besides, women have also started 364 other services businesses during eight months of the year 2007-08 till the month of November. On one hand the state government is inviting established and major industrial houses to invest in Madhya Pradesh by highlighting immense industrial potential before them through Global Investors Summit and on the other hand local industrialists are being provided total protection and facilities. The fact that women entrepreneurs have set up more than 3 thousand units during two and half years goes to underline state government's dedication towards industrial development. Women entrepreneurs have set up 3175 units from April 2005 to November 2007. Investment to the tune of Rs 25 crore 79 lakh 43 thousand 43 was invested in the establishment of these units which provide employment to 6207 persons.

In the year 2005-06 women entrepreneurs set up 167 units with an investment of Rs 11 crore 23 lakh 6 thousand and 1050 units in the year 2006-07 with a cost of Rs eight crore 97 lakh 13 thousands. These units provided employment to 3522 persons in 2005-06 and 2015 persons in 2006-07. Till the month of November 2007-08, women entrepreneurs have set up 428 units at a cost of Rs four crore 54 lakh 24 thousand giving employment to 670 persons. During the first eight months of the year 2007-08 women entrepreneurs have established 364 other services businesses at a cost of Rs six crore 89 lakh 55 thousand.

Women's participation in agriculture: Three new schemes have been launched in Madhya Pradesh in the year 2007-08 for ensuring women's participation in agriculture under 11th Five-Year Plan. A provision to the tune of Rs 25 crore has been made for these schemes. Apart from helping women farmers in understanding and acquiring low cost techniques, general agriculture extension system is also be made conducive for human resource development. Through training women farmers are being sensitivised about gender through continual contact between science extension activists and farmers so that they can imbibe leadership ability. The department has trained the general extension system and enabled the women farmers, especially Kisan Didi to impart training in agricultural techniques. They have also been fully informed about technique training imbibing tour, special training, inter-district training, group formation training and formation of women cultivators groups.

Protection for women: Effective efforts have been undertaken by the state government to save families from breaking up by solving their disputes and problems through Family Counselling Centres. The Family Counselling Centres, set up by Madhya Pradesh police, are solving family disputes in large number which has not only saved the families from breaking up but has also helped in decrease of crimes against women. The Family Counselling Centres have succeeded to solve as many as 45 thousand disputes during the last four years. Seven thousand 134 families disputes were solved in the year 2004, 13 thousand 251 in 2005, 12 thousand 601 in 2006 and more than 12 thousand family discords have been solved by the end of 2007.

If any woman is unable to reach the Family Counselling Centre or police station due to unavoidable circumstances, she can lodge her report by telephone to Women Helpline. Trained counsellors remain available round the clock and swing into action to solve the problem as soon as they receive a woman's complaint. Fifty-one Women's Helplines are working in 28 districts of the state whereas efforts are afoot to establish Women's Helpline in rest of the districts.