Kohima, March 19 2009: The Committee on Welfare of Women and Children, Manipur Legislative Assembly on Thursday has recommended the state government introduction of gender budgeting with special allotment of funds for women and children in all departments and framing of a state policy of Women among others.

The Chairman of the Committee of the House M Okendro presented the report to the floor of the House on its last day seating today.

The committee made the recommendation after a thorough study on the condition of the women and children in the state under different schemes and projects taken up in comparison with that of other states of the country which the committee learnt during their visited.

The house committee which was constituted on April 10, 2008 visited the states of West Bengal, Goa, Maharashtra, Delhi and some districts of the state to study the activities for the welfare of women and children.

While submitting the report, the committee suggested the state government for introduction of Gender Budgeting stating that the same had been introduced in national and some states for the empowerment of women with a provision of making special allotment of funds for women and children in all departments.

Expressing the need for a state policy of women, the committee report observed that this would able to address the needs of women empowerment in the state.

The committee also urged introduction of establishment of a model of Save Our Soul (SOS) Children Village in the state stating that the committee was impressed to see the activities of Goa Bal Bhavan and was motivated to work sincerely which committee paid a visit.

It also recommended keeping of safe drinking water points at Imma (women market) Keithel, Laxmi Bazar and New Market, within the Imphal Municipality areas as well as in Government Blind and Deaf and Mute School, Takeyet, Imphal.

Establishment and construction of a Bal Bhavan at Moreh under the Border Development Programme, enhancement of diet allowance for students of the Government Blind and Deaf and Mute Schools from existing rate of Rs 500 per month to Rs.1000 in the light of the present cost of living index, to open a night shelter home for women and day care cum cr�che centre at the proposed Inter-state Bus Terminus at Khuman Lampak, Imphal were the other recommendation made by the committee.

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