Even as the Centre is contemplating to merge the Mahila Samakhya programme (Education for Women’s Equality) with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Gujarat government has decided to take over and continue the scheme under the state Education Department from April 1.
Gujarat was the first state from where the women empowerment programme was launched in 1989.
Initially implemented in three districts
- Sabarkantha
- Vadodara
- Rajkot
Later expanded to nine more districts
- Banaskantha
- Surendranagar
- Panchmahal
- Dangs
- Valsad
- Narmada
- Dahod
- Bhavnagar
- Patan
The state government has already approved a budget of Rs 70 crore and aims to expand to 19 districts in another five years.
Source: The Indian Express