Pro-women initiatives in education, employment and even in the Police Department has been hailed as a positive move by the Chief Minister. With the aim of encouraging girls to complete their education, fees will be waived for all female students studying in government PU, degree and postgraduate colleges. This will benefit 3.7 lakh students, at a cost of ₹95 crore.
Employment opportunities for women in the workplace were also addressed in the State Budget. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said representation of women in police department would be enhanced by 25% over the next five years. Toilets will be constructed for women at all police stations and offices. According to the budget, all women police stations in district headquarters will be upgraded as one-stop service centres.
A hundred women will be trained in light motor vehicle driving by the Transport Department at institutes in Bengaluru and Dharwad, and another 1,000 women candidates through the BMTC.
Among other initiatives, the maximum loan limit under Udyogini scheme has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh. Furthermore, ₹1 crore has been allocated to start a comprehensive information resource portal for women to communicate information about schemes and facilities.
