Malnourished kids to get spirulina boost

 Distribution of 2 grams of spirulina a day for 180 days to 25,000 malnourished children under the Bala Poshaka Scheme, provision of milk with cream under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme to anganwadi children and supply of micronutrients to pregnant and lactating women in backward taluks, are among the major announcements in the State Budget for the Women and Child Development and Empowerment of Differently-Abled and Senior Citizens Department.

In all, Rs 4,497 crore has been allocated to the department.
The budget also provides for building 4,000 anganwadi buildings and providing Rs 2,000 instead of present Rs 750 for each malnourished child.

For senior citizens, a state-level resource cell would be set up and for mentally challenged and female destitutes, Anupalana Gruhas would be opened in the State. Emphasis has been laid for the repair and construction of special school buildings of differently-abled persons and for this, Rs 10 crore has been earmarked.

To enable women of Stree Shakti to become independent entrepreneurs, Stree Shakti Koushalya programme would be launched and Rs 10 crore would be provided to 10,000 women running small roadside businesses.

For women, a District Women’s Welfare Committee would be set up and  a Women’s Empowerment policy will be launched. The Women’s Development Corporation will be renamed 'Women and  Differently-Abled Development Corporation’.