17 women welfare projects approved
ISLAMABAD, March 12 2005: The Ministry of Women Development has approved 17 projects worth Rs 167.341 million for women welfare especially in remote areas for fiscal year 2005-06. Sources told Business Recorder that under one project “Economic Empowerment of the Women” the First Women Bank would provide loans worth Rs 35 million to rural women.
The Finance ministry suggested that the ministry of women development must review the cost and selection of districts and directed that interest on micro credit loans to women must be lower than 14 percent.
Sources informed that the women development ministry has proposed Rs 31.992 million for the “Implementation of National Plan of Action for Women.”
The project ‘Jafakash Aurat’ to support skills and micro enterprise development amongst Gwadar women by Khushhali Bank would cost Rs 33.763 million.
The ministry will establish monitoring and steering committee to closely monitor the quality and quantitative targets of the projects.
Patti Development Project, Chitral by Aga Khan Rural Support programme (AKRSP) worth Rs 35.985 million has also been approved the ministry.Under this project 15 percent mark-up will be charged from women borrowers for sustainable development.
Sources added that the ministry would start “Mother and Child Health Care” project at Katkhair, Muzaffarabad at a cost of Rs 0.759 million. The project will be launched with co-operation of Khoshar Welfare and Educational Society.
The main objective of the project is to improve health facilities to mother and child. The government will bear the cost for one year and after provision of legal documents from any NGO, the ministry will transfer the ownership to that organisation.
A project for Women Welfare Centre, Orakzai worth Rs 11.375 million will be initiated in the district with the co-operation of army and local political agents.
The welfare center will train the local women in various skills to generate income.The ministry will provide a “mobile ambulance for MCH, Jabbar for District Dir (Upper)”. The cost of the project is Rs 1.358 million.
The hospital does not have ambulance and is using private transport for emergency cases.”Skill Development Centre for Urban and Rural Women” in Karak is also proposed at a cost of Rs 0.650 million.
The centre, in co-operation with a local NGO “Karak Women Development Awareness and Development Organisation”, will train women in various skills.
The project “Vocational Training for Women in District Sorizai Payan” would cost Rs 1.067 million.Socio-economic Rural Advancement Programme” will share the project with Rs 0.2 million and government’s will spend Rs 0.867 million to train women in vocational skills.
Ministry of Women Development will establish “Multi-purpose Women Welfare Complex in Rawal Town, Islamabad” worth Rs 14.144 million.
Sources told Business Recorder that the complex would have a working women hostel. The ministry has acquired the land 99-year on lease from the CDA. The scheme has been approved with 60 percent share of the government and 40 percent by an NGO.
The Ministry would provide a bus to “Divisional Public School, Shamsabad, Rawalpindi costing Rs 3.3 million.A project regarding “Establishment of MCH centre at Al-Khidmat free hospital in Muzaffargarh” worth Rs 1 million has also been approved. Adara Khidmat Awam, Muzaffargarh would co-operate in this project.
The ministry has approved the project of “Computer Training Centre for Girls” at Multan District worth Rs 1.187 million with co-operation of local NGOs.
The project regarding provision of transport facility to students of “Islamabad Commerce College for women F-10/3” has been approved costing Rs 3.853 million. A project “Establishment of Department of Women Studies at the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad worth Rs 7.000 million is also on the approved list.
The ministry would also construct 115 toilets in two villages of Tehsil Ogi and district Mansehra worth Rs 1.490 million.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:3/12/2005
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