Bhopal, Apr 24: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that a number of novel schemes have been implemented for empowerment of women so that they can become active partner in development of society and the country. While addressing a women empowerment convention here today the Chief Minister said that a congenial atmosphere is being created for eradicating of social evils and enhancing awareness.

The Chief Minister said that the schemes launched by the state government have led to positive changes in the state. He dwelt at length on Janani Suraksha Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana, Ladli Laxmi Yojana and Gaon Ki Beti Yojana. He said that the rate of institutional deliveries has now gone up from 26 per cent to 70 per cent.

Chouhan said that 50 per cent offices have been reserved for women in panchayats and urban civic bodies. Similarly, 50 percent posts of teacher and ten percent posts in police force have been reserved for women in the state. Cent percent posts have been reserved for women in Rani Durgawati Battalion. A women desk has been set up in every police state so that women can lodge complaints without any difficulty. The honorarium of anganwadi workers has been increased. It has been ensured that woman labourers get 45 days wages as maternity benefit and their husbands 15 days paid leave to take care of them.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is going to launch Mukhya Mantri Annapurna Yojana to provide wheat and rice to the poor at the subsidised rate of Rs 3 and Rs 4.5 per kg, respectively.

The Chief Minister distributed National Saving Certificates of Rs 6 thousand each to five girls under Ladali Laxami Yojana. He also presented a cheque of Rs 20 thousand to a woman Ms Soni Bai and of Rs three thousand five hundred to another woman Ms Seema Bai under Mukhya Mantri Majdoor Suraksha Yojana. He also gave away cheques of incentive amount to two couples who opted for inter caste marriage.

On the demand of local public representatives the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh to Dhar municipality and setting up of two new girls and boys schools and a new school at Ghata Billaud. He also inaugurated the new building of the office of the Superintendent of Police.

The Minister for Woman and Child Development Ms Kusum Mehadele, Minister for Tribal Welfare Kunwar Vijay Shah; Minister of State for Tribal Welfare Ms Ranjana Baghel, Member of Parliament Chhatar Singh Darbar and MLA Jaswant Singh Rathore also spoke on the occasion.