Three-fold hike to help DCW wrap up stalled work

New Delhi: On International Women’s Day, the Delhi government tripled its budgetary allocation for the DCW. With a total allocation of Rs 20 crore for the coming fiscal year, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) wants to wrap up its unfinished business like the opening of a cyber cell, one-stop crisis centres for women and mahila panchayats.

The government announced that the tax on sanitary pads costing above Rs 20 crore will be reduced from 12.5 per cent to just 4 per cent. Sanitary pads are non-taxable.

Female students from Classes 9 to 12 will also get midday meals from this year’s academic session, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said. Currently, the government serves meals to both male and female students till Class 8 only.

The city government already runs Kishori Yojana — a scheme to provide sanitary napkins to over 7 lakh girls enrolled in its schools from Classes 6 to 12.

DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal thanked the government for recognising the need to strengthen the resources of the women’s body. “First time in the Indian history has the women commission got Rs 20 core. Thanks to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia,” the DCW chief said.

She later tweeted: “DCW wil start cyber cell, one cell, one-stop centres and mahila panchayats now. Best gift on Womens Day.” The commission had last year announced that it will set up 11 one-stop centres across the city.

The Budget allocated last year to the women’s body was Rs 7 core.

“It is appreciable that the government is investing in providing resources to bodies working for women but we also want it to focus on issues like women safety which continue to be unaddressed,” said Kamla Bhasin, founder member of Jagori, an NGO for women.