Key announcements for Women and Child Development - Union Budget 2021-22

The Government of India has proposed a sum of 244.35 billion rupees for the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry in the Union Budget 2021-2022. The allocation is 16.31% higher than revised estimates of over 210 billion rupees for the financial year 2020-2021. Out of 244.35 billion rupees, the government has allocated 201.05 billion rupees for Mission Poshan 2.0 scheme, with a view to strengthening nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcome.

Mission Poshan 2.0 scheme is an umbrella scheme that will cover the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)- Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyaan, Scheme For Adolescent Girls, and the National Creche Scheme. The total amount for the social services sector, which includes nutrition and social security, and welfare, has been increased from nearly 24.12 billion rupees in 2020-21 to around 35.76 billion rupees in 2021-22. A budgetary provision of 31.09 billion rupees has been made under Mission Shakti, which is a mission for protection and empowerment for women. Besides, 9 billion rupees have been proposed for Mission Vatsalya for child protection and welfare services in the budget.

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