New Delhi:  Presenting the Interim Budget 2024-25 in Parliament on Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a vaccination programme for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for the prevention of cervical cancer.

The government will encourage this vaccination among the eligible categories, the minister said.

She further announced that one comprehensive programme will be created to bring synergy to various programmes for maternal and child care.

“Anganwadi centres will be upgraded under ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0’. This will improve nutrition delivery, early childhood care, and development,” she said.

The ‘U-WIN’ platform will be rolled out to further the digital India initiative of the government, Sitharaman said, adding, “This platform will be used for managing immunization and furthering the efforts under Mission Indradhanush.”

The empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, ease of living, and dignity for them has gained momentum in these ten years, the Minister said, adding, “Thirty crore Mudra Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs.”

“Female enrolment in higher education has gone up by 28% in ten years. In STEM courses, girls and women constitute around 43% of enrolment, which is one of the highest in the world. All these measures are getting reflected in the increasing participation of women in the workforce,” Sitharaman said.

“Making ‘Triple Talaq’ illegal, reservation of one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies, and giving over seventy percent of houses under PM Awas Yojana in rural areas to women as sole or joint owners have enhanced their dignity,” she added.

The finance minister further said that our focus is on four major castes, which include ‘Garib’ (poor), ‘Mahilayen’ (women), ‘Yuva’ (youth), and ‘Annadata’ (farmer). Their needs, their aspirations, and their welfare are our highest priorities.” The country progresses when they progress, she said.

“All four require and receive government support in their quest to better their lives. Their empowerment and well-being will drive the country forward,” Sitharaman added.