The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the Budget in Parliament today has announced that the Governemnt is committed to the universalisation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme in the country. He said that, by March 2012, all services under ICDS would be extended with quality to every child under the age of six.
Expressing grave concern at the low level of female literacy in the country, Shri Mukherjee said that the aim of the National Mission for Female Literacy would be to reduce by half, the current level of female illiteracy, in three years. This mission will focus on minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized groups.