The government proposes to bring in new laws and schemes to strenghten the environment of protection for women and children in the 12th five year plan. Addressing the state ministers conference in New Delhi today, minister of state for Women and Child Development, Ms Krishna Tirath, said it also propose to launch a new central sector scheme in around 100 districts to identify the most vulnerable blocks for targeted interventions.

Pitching for economic and social empowerment of the women for robust economic growth of the country, she hoped that there would be substantial increase in the allocations for faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth for women and children. The minister said, government has planned to increase and univasalize the pilot schemes like SABLA to empower adolescent girls and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna Scheme, IGMSY, across the country.Presently the SABLA scheme is only existing in 200 districts of the country.

Expressing concern over the declining child sex ratio in several states including Haryana and Punjab, the minister informed that the centre has intensified its efforts to ensure the survival of the girl child and propose to take up several pilot projects through the National Mission for Empowerment of Women.

Ms Tirath highlighted the vital issues of women and child and sought states cooperation for effective implementation of women and child schemes throughout the country. She added state governments are one of the most important partners in the implementation of the Central government sponsored schemes.