Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Schemes for promoting education among women, ensuring better healthcare facilities, and making it easier for women to start and run their own businesses—women in the city want all this and more from the state’s annual budget. The budget will be presented in the Vidhan Sabha today. Here’s what women from different professions and backgrounds had to say when Free Press asked about their expectations from the budget.
Excerpts:
Better health & education
Budget serves as the foundation of the development of the state. Being a teacher and a woman, I have a lot of expectations from it. It is said that a budget of Rs 4 lakh crore is going to be presented and that special provisions have been made in it for the youth, women and farmers. Current schemes for women are quite good but I feel that some provisions for promoting higher education of women and ensuring their better health care should be made in the budget. — Arpana Narolia, teacher
Loans to SHGs on easier terms
It is said that this budget will be a “Kamgaron ka Budget,” and so we expect it would bring down corruption and generate employment. Inflation has shot up and so are the prices of raw materials. We expect some provisions in the budget to check the rising costs of raw materials. We expect exemptions on loans for SHG women at a zero rate of interest, especially for starting businesses and loan repayment period should be extended from one year to two years. The government should also provide land or halls to help women set up their businesses smoothly. There should be relaxations in electricity bills. — Firoz Jehan, artisan
Open drains in 2025?
I think the government should hike the budget for cleanliness and sanitation. There should be special provision of the budget on sanitation if we really want to make Bhopal No. 1 in cleanliness. We are living in 2025 but still have open drains and there is no proper drainage and sewage system in the state capital. What is this? Besides, I want that freebies, especially rations should be stopped as it is making people idle. Instead, good health, education and basic facilities should be provided to the underprivileged or people of marginalised communities. There should be some checks on the high rates in private hospitals. — Shalini Gupta, artist
Raise pension for differently-abled
I work for differently-abled people, specially children and so hope some provision in the budget to raise financial assistance to them. Currently, they are getting Rs 600 per month. Just imagine, how they can sustain their life with such a small amount in present times. If we talk about other states in the country, the pension amount is Rs 1500-Rs 6000. So, pension amounts should be increased in Madhya Pradesh too so that they can survive. Besides, there should be control over the price of petrol and gold. — Deepti Patwa, social activist
Simplify processes
There is a need for improvements in schemes, especially those meant and designed for women. The government processes should be made easy and simple so that every woman can get access and may benefit from it easily. The budget should be self-employment-oriented. And it should be ensured that the state budget does not impact the household budget adversely.—Rekha Sharma, entrepreneur
