Mumbai, Oct 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Women & Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare on Monday said the state government will soon implement the Single Women Empowerment, Protection and Overall Development Policy 2026, designed with a broad focus on dignity, equality, autonomy, safety and financial self-reliance.
Women living independently without dependency will also be covered under the Single Women Policy.
Minister Tatkare was speaking at a review meeting covering the Child Policy, Single Women Policy, Pink E-Rickshaw initiative, Aadishakti Abhiyan Awards and mobile monitoring teams.
Minister Tatkare highlighted 10 key strategic focus areas under the policy, namely: Social Security and Fundamental Civic Rights; Economic Empowerment; Education and Child Protection; Physical and Mental Health; Shelter and Housing; Property and Inheritance Rights; Legal Protection; Support for Women in Special Circumstances; Governance and Administrative Support; and Data and Digital Systems.
She directed that non-official and civil society members be included across the six specialised committees formed under the policy framework.
Minister Tatkare asked officials to compile updated data on single women residing in Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats.
While Zilla Parishad records currently identify 23.95 lakh single women in rural areas, this figure is expected to rise significantly once major urban centres are included.
She said that, given the increasing number of single women in both rural and urban areas, their specific needs must be studied and incorporated into the final policy framework.
Tatkare also instructed officials to aggressively expand the Aadishakti Abhiyan in urban areas through ward committees.
The meeting concluded with a review of mobile protection units and the progress of the Pink E-Rickshaw initiative.
Meanwhile, Minister Tatkare directed that regional government hostels and child-care homes be prepared to accommodate children of migrant workers.
She said that, rather than limiting planning to the 265 officially declared drought-hit talukas, district and taluka administrations must coordinate planning across all 358 talukas, considering the overall situation.
This includes food and water supply at Anganwadi centres, safe shelter for children of migrant families and prevention of child marriages.
Minister Tatkare was speaking at a review meeting on protection for women and children, nutrition distribution in Anganwadis and child marriage prevention during drought conditions.
She directed that Food Committee meetings be held to review taluka-wise conditions and ensure an uninterrupted food supply to children through Anganwadi centres.
District Collectors were instructed to convene District-Level Committee meetings to plan for potential drought situations.
Tatkare also instructed concerned officers to prepare a joint action plan and identify required modifications.
She stressed that ensuring adequate water supply to Anganwadi centres during drought conditions was essential.
In areas dependent on water tankers, authorities must ensure that Anganwadi centres receive adequate water allocations.
Since conditions outside officially declared drought-hit talukas are also not entirely satisfactory, measures should cover all talukas, she added.
Minister Tatkare noted that the risk of child marriage increases during drought periods.
She said the government machinery must directly engage with women and families in drought-affected and migration-prone areas and create awareness about government schemes, child-protection systems and alternatives to marrying off underage girls.
The Minister further directed officials to gather information on the capacity, foodgrain stocks, water sources and basic amenities available at Child Care Institutions, Children’s Homes and Social Justice Department hostels in drought-affected and migration-prone talukas.
She instructed authorities to verify whether institutions possess food stocks sufficient for up to 40 days and plan additional support through NGOs and CSR funding wherever required.
Source: IANS
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