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Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister addressing maidservants Panchayat in Bhopal |
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Bhopal:
Domestic maidservants
in Madhya Pradesh had it never so good. The state Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan showered a slew of sops and flower petals to
welcome them who had converged in large numbers to his residence to
attend a "Panchayat" of urban domestic women workers for the welfare
of this section of society convened by him.
Chief Minister Chouhan made a number
of announcements at the “Panchayat” after hearing their woes to
flatten them here on Tuesday. He said issuing photo ID cards to
these women will be the first step in acknowledging them as service
providers and alleviating some of their problems. Secondly, if
anyone falls sick in their family then he/she will get free
government medical treatment up to Rs. 20,000. “We will make
arrangements for that from Chief Minister Donation scheme,” he
declared. About 5,000 domestic maidservants had assembled for the “Panchayat”.
Chouhan insisted that domestic women
workers should be addressed as "Didis" (sisters) instead of “Baees”.
Most prominent among the announcements made by the Chief Minister at
the “Panchayat” was the one related to education. As per it,
children of domestic women workers will be given the benefits of
Special Education Promotion Scheme.
In fact Chouhan stooped to conquer the
maidservants’ hearts. Though domestic helps were happy that they
will be called by more respectful words at homes but doubted the
government’s sincerity in putting their words into actions
Chouhan said that "Madhya Pradesh
“Shahri Gharelu Kamkaji Mahila Kalyan Yojna 2009" will be
implemented with a view to bringing smiles on the faces of domestic
women workers by improving their standard of living. The state
government will provide honour and protection to such women.
After hearing suggestions from
domestic women workers for more than two hours, Chief Minister
Chouhan said that opportunities of skill development will be
provided to their family members apart from providing them
facilities of medical treatment, stipends, insurance and economic
assistance for delivery and marriage. Besides, their cooperation
will also be sought in the implementation of Mid-day Meal Scheme.
Speaking to the domestic working
sisters, Chief Minister Chouhan said that the state government has
organised this “Panchayat” after observing problems of this section.
The life of sisters working as domestic help for washing clothes and
utensils and cleaning floor of one or several houses is surrounded
by several problems. He said that in today's “Panchayat” several
sisters have mentioned about the problems they face in the absence
of identity card. Besides, suggestions have been made by them for
providing assistance for education of their children and marriage of
their daughters, problem of employment during pregnancy, vocational
training and benefits of insurance. He said that a new scheme is
being launched in the light of these suggestions. Welfare of
domestic working sisters will be ensured under "Shahri Gharelu
Kamkaji Mahila Kalyan Yojna".
Chouhan said that the applications
regarding grave ailments given by sisters in today's “Panchayat”
will be disposed off soon. He said necessary welfare measures will
also be taken on the suggestions made by domestic working sisters.
No stone will be left unturned by the Madhya Pradesh government in
redressing the practical problems being faced by them.
Urban Administration and Development
Minister Babulal Gaur said that a survey of domestic women workers
will be undertaken after which they will be provided identity cards.
The facilities to be provided to
maidservants and their families are as under:
Treatment facility
Treatment up to Rs 20,000 will be
provided at government hospitals to the members of domestic woman
workers on falling ill. The benefit of this scheme will be extended
to a domestic woman worker's husband, son, daughter, father-in law,
mother-in law, widowed daughter or the daughter abandoned by her
husband.
Education facilities: Free text-books
from class I to XII will be provided to the children of domestic
woman workers. Their sons and daughters will be given Rs 500 and 750
assistance amount respectively per annum from class I to V, Rs 1000
and Rs 1500 from class VIII to XII, Rs 1500 to 2000 respectively
during graduation, Rs 2500 and Rs 3000 at the post-graduate level,
Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 for undergoing professional education and Rs 4000
to Rs 5000 for doing Ph. D. Meritorious students from class V to VII
will be given Rs. 500 and Rs 750 per annum respectively. This amount
will be Rs 750 and Rs 1000 for classes VIII and IX, Rs. 1000 to Rs.
1500 for classes and Rs. 1500 and 2000 for class XII. At graduation
and post-graduation levels, this amount will be Rs. 2000 and Rs.
3000 respectively.
Delivery assistance
Domestic working sisters will be
provided 45 days' special leave for delivery of child. The wages for
these 45 days will be borne by the state government. Woman's husband
will also be given 15 days' leave with pay. The woman will be given
Rs 1000 for laddus and nutritious diet.
Assistance for marriage of daughters:
The Social Justice Department will provide economic assistance for
the marriage of their daughters. Necessary amounts will be given
under the provisions of “Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna”.
Insurance scheme: In case of natural
death of an urban domestic woman worker, her next of kin will be
given Rs 30,000. In case of death in accident, this amount will be
Rs. 75,000 and in case of severe injuries in accident this amount
will be Rs. 37,500.
pervezbari@eth.net
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