Latest news with #AnnapurnaDevi
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Centre launches portal on gender budgeting
The Central government on Thursday (June 19, 2025) said that over the past 11 years, Gender Budget allocations have increased by four and a half times — from ₹0.98 lakh crore in 2014-15 to ₹4.49 lakh crore in 2025-26. Gender Budgeting has been a core element of India's development strategy since 2005–06. Initially introduced as a fiscal reporting mechanism, it has evolved into a key governance instrument for achieving gender equality and women empowerment, Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi said at a National Consultation on Gender Budgeting here. Senior Officers from 40 Central ministries and departments and 19 States, Representatives of UN Women, Asian Development Bank and Experts from National level Institutes participated in the day-long event. The consultation, the first of its kind, was organised with the key objectives of deliberating on measures to strengthen gender budgeting processes across all sectors and sharing initiatives and good practices on gender budgeting by Central Ministries/Departments and States under their specific schemes, a senior official of the ministry said. The Union WCD Minister also launched a web portal named 'Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub', developed by the Ministry. The Hub is a digital repository of all information related to gender budgeting processes, intended for use by Central and State government ministries and departments, as well as other stakeholders. The portal's primary aim is to empower policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders with a centralised repository of tools — including policy briefs, best practices, and gender-disaggregated data — to support the integration of a gender lens into all stages of planning and budgeting, both at the Central and State levels. Ms. Devi said gender budgeting has moved from being a fiscal exercise to becoming a strategic instrument for inclusive governance. 'Gender budgeting is not just a policy tool—it is our collective commitment to ensuring that every rupee spent carries the promise of equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.' She said that for the financial year 2025–26, the Gender Budget allocation of ₹4.49 lakh crore — a 37% increase over the previous year allocation — underscores the government's strong commitment to advancing gender equality through both policy and public finance. Deliberations were also held on a draft 'Training Manual' on Gender Budgeting, which has been developed by the Ministry as an important capacity-building tool and practical guide to understand various aspects of Gender Budgeting in India.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Delightful, India has progressed in every field from 2014 to 2025": Union Minister Annapurna Devi praises 11 years of NDA
New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Thursday praised the Centre's 11 years of governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the journey has been delightful. Speaking to the media, the Union Minister asserted that India has progressed in every sector from 2014 to 2025. 'This journey of 11 years has been delightful. India has progressed in every field from 2014 to 2025. Today, people are moving forward with women are progressing in every are working towards women's nutrition, safety, protection and women empowerment,' Annapurna Devi said. Over the last ten years, India's global footprint has expanded thereby ensuring India's voice resonates across global platforms. From the presidency at the G20 Summit, to initiatives such as the Vaccine Maitri program, in the last 11 years, India has emerged as a global leader through impactful initiatives that blend vision with execution. India's presidency of the G20 spotlighted the Global South and delivered concrete outcomes, including the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance. Whether through diplomacy, humanitarian aid, or strategic defence, India has crafted a new narrative of influence and self-reliance. In the last 11 years, India has stepped up as a global leader through impactful initiatives that blend vision with execution. This is reflected across areas such as climate change, energy transition, public health or artificial intelligence. India shows that it has driven conversations and crafted coalitions that put the nation's priorities at the centre of global discourse. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership has anchored these efforts in responsibility and inclusivity, ensuring India's voice resonates across global platforms. The global leadership prowess of India was reflected during the G20 presidency, where a major highlight was the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, despite deep divides on global issues like the Ukraine conflict. This achievement underscored India's growing stature as a consensus builder and its ability to lead amid global uncertainty. Expanding India's global diplomatic presence, since 2014-2024, India has opened 39 new embassies and consulates, bringing the total number to 219. In the recent past, relief and evacuation efforts by the government stand testimony to the idea of 'nation first' policy. Some major evacuation missions include, Vande Bharat Mission (2020-22); Operation Devi Shakti, Afghanistan (2021), Operation Ganga, Ukraine (2022); Operation Kaveri , Sudan (2023) and Operation Ajay, Israel amongst others. Under PM Modi, India's approach has been rooted in responsibility and inclusion, always placing national interest within a wider humanitarian framework. These initiatives have helped India shape a new global order while safeguarding its sovereignty and amplifying its strategic voice. (ANI)
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor has become a new example of women's leadership: Minister Devi
1 2 3 Nagpur: Union minister of women and child development Annapurna Devi said that the recently conducted ' Operation Sindoor ' became a new example of women's leadership on Sunday. Speaking at the one-day national conference on philosopher queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar at IIM-Nagpur in Mihan, the union minister said our daughters in the armed forces gave a befitting reply to the cowardly terror act in Pahalgam last month. She also pointed out that Holkar was ahead of her times and introduced social reforms 300 years ago which continue to inspire the Modi govt too. "In the 93-year-old history of IMA, the first women's batch will pass out next month after training to lead the armed forces and demonstrate their bravery. Devi Ahilyabai too emphasised building defence capabilities. Our women soldiers made it clear that water and blood will not flow together. Mission Sindoor became a new example of women's leadership," she said. The union minister added, "Holkar was ahead of her time. She introduced the adoption of widows and orphans besides giving them rights of inheritance. She was born 300 years ago in a simple family, but she was a visionary and took society ahead," she said. "Modiji is inspired by her and took several decisions for women empowerment , like the abolition of triple talaq to protect the rights and education of Muslim women, training, and skill development programmes for women," the minister said. Annapurna Devi said Ahilyabai Holkar too believed that a society can only progress when both men and women get the same rights and opportunities, pointing out that budget allocation has been hiked to Rs4.49 lakh crore for women and the girl child. The central govt's pledge of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' and good governance is inspired by the legacy of Ahilyabai Holkar, she said. "Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, while managing the politics of Malwa, not only developed pilgrimage sites but also made life easier for the people in her state," Annapurna Devi said. The one-day conference was jointly organised by the Devi Ahilyabai Memorial Committee-Nagpur, Mythic Society-Bangalore, IIM-Nagpur, Smt Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture-Nagpur, and Maharashtra National Law University-Nagpur to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Holkar. Rashtriya Sevika Samiti's pramukh sanchalika Shantakka and IIM Nagpur's director Bhimaraya Metri were present. Annapurna Devi said while managing her state, Ahilyabai Holkar developed pilgrimage sites from Kashi to Somnath. "She built roads, rest houses, and ghats. These places are our sites of reverence. Lokmata Ahilya Holkar not only developed religious pilgrimage sites but also improved the standard of living for the people," she said. The minister also underlined how Holkar's life inspired good governance, Amrit Bharat Stations, Smart City Mission, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, 'Mission Shakti', Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and National Education Policy.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Juvenile offenders will be reformed, rehabilitated: Min
1 2 Ranchi: Chairing a comprehensive conference-cum-consultative meet on Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act and related laws on Sunday at the Judicial Academy, Union minister Annapurna Devi emphasized on a compassionate approach towards children in conflict with laws adding that their reform and rehabilitation should be the priority. The JJ board and child welfare committee members, police officials and child welfare experts were also present on the occasion. The Union minister said, "Foundation of a sensitive and empowered society is laid only after we provide justice, protection and respect to children. The JJ Act not only protects rights of child but also helps them lead a respectful life through rehabilitation." Jharkhand high court judge Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary stated that young individuals are not criminals to be punished or burdens to be managed. They are children caught in complex webs of trauma, neglect, poverty or violence. She said, "Juvenile justice must remain restorative not retributive. One of the most humane evolution in legal philosophy is the shift from viewing child offenders as perpetrators deserving punishment to recognizing them as individuals with immense potential for transformation." Justice Rawat said that when the child is tried as an adult in the court, the latter is not only a forum for adjudication but also a guardian of the child's long-term interest. She said that even if the child is found in conflict with law the order must have a comprehensive individual care plan. Taking part in the meeting, deputy secretary of the department of women and child development Abhay Nandan Abastha said the govt is planning to expand the capacity of the observation homes in the state adding that a place of safety for children has started functioning in Simdega district.
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Big bash in Karnataka in October to celebrate Anganwadi golden jubilee
BENGALURU: Karnataka will celebrate 50 years of the Anganwadi initiative with a grand golden jubilee in Bengaluru this October. Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar said the event will recognize the efforts of thousands of Anganwadi workers who have played a crucial role in early childhood care and development across the state. The minister said Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare Annapurna Devi will be invited to the celebrations. 'We have spoken to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Over one lakh Angwanwadi workers, helpers and others will attend the event,'' she said. Hebbalkar, who reviewed the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) meeting on Monday, stressed on starting LKG and UKG classes. 'We need to start LKG, UKG in Anganwadi centres to keep operational,'' she said. She urged Deputy Directors and Child Development Project Officers to ensure these classes are launched. The meeting included updates on several initiatives under the ICDS, such as Poshan Tracker indicators, grant utilization, construction of Anganwadi buildings, recruitment of workers and helpers, and distribution of Ayushman Bharat health cards.
