In a notable move towards advancing the empowerment of women, the government of Madhya Pradesh has taken strides to secure their position in the workforce. A recent decision has institutionalized a reservation of 35% for women in government jobs, ensuring they have a considerable presence in government offices across the state. 

Details of the Decision 

The call for such a reservation was initially made by Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan earlier this year. Now, the government of Madhya Pradesh has officially brought this to effect through a notification issued by the General Administration Department, making it binding on all departments, save for the Forest department. The move seeks to represent the reservation both vertically and horizontally; such an arrangement will ensure benefits are reaped by women from various sections of society. 

"The 35 per cent reservation formula will be applicable in all departments except the forest department. This would be implemented vertically and horizontally so that women of all sections avail the benefit."

Empowerment and Self-Reliance 

This decision aligns with an all around push towards making women more self-reliant and empowered. The move is deemed a step in the right direction, especially considering the Assembly polls scheduled for later this year in Madhya Pradesh. Noticeably, reports suggest that orders to fix the quota for women in government jobs came directly from the Chief Minister's office. 

As part of the drive towards women empowerment, the state government introduced the Ladli Behna Yojana earlier in June. The scheme - aimed at financially bolstering women from the middle class - entails a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000. The eligibility criterion for the scheme is fairly broad-based; it covers women from all castes, provided their family income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually. The state government has set aside a substantial sum of Rs 3,628.85 crore for the Ladli Behna Yojana. 

Under the same plan, an amount of Rs 1,250 is to be dispatched to 1.25 crore women starting this month. In time, the revenues will be escalated to Rs 3,000 per month with the ultimate objective being to improve the financial stability of women in Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, the state government has desires to allot lands to women for opening up small-scale units and further enhance their self-reliance. 

"The state government aims to raise the income of women to at least Rs 10,000 per month."

Amendment to Existing Rules for reservation

To make the reservation for women a reality, the government of Madhya Pradesh made amendments to the Madhya Pradesh Civils Services (Special Provision for Appointment of Women) Rules, 1997. Not only will women now receive a 35% reservation, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also pledged to extend a 50% reservation for women in teaching posts and ensure that priority is given to them in local bodies. Earlier this year, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam - another significant move that guarantees 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha as well as state legislative assemblies - was passed with unanimous support. 

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