Chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday proposed exemption of VAT on sanitary napkins costing up to Rs 20 and Jan Ahar being sold by government approved NGOs in her budget 2011-12.

She proposed this while allocating Rs 1,048 crore (8%) of the annual budget to social security and welfare.

The CM also announced that all school-going girls of classes 6 to 12 in all government and government-aided schools will be provided sanitary napkins in an effort to provide them dignity and hygiene. An amount of Rs 7 crore is proposed for this new scheme in the annual plan 2011-12 .

The budget also proposes that the monthly honorarium of anganwadi workers will be increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000. In case of helpers, it is proposed to raise the amount from Rs 1,250 to Rs 2,000 per month with effect from April 2011. This will include the honorarium paid both by the central and

state governments. The Delhi government will also provide Rs 400 per annum to Anganwari workers and helpers in addition to the Rs 4,000 by the government of India for purchase of uniforms.

To promote education among SC/ST/OBC and minority students, the government has decided to enhance the eligibility income limit of households from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh for all types of scholarships in government and government-aided schools.

The government has also decided to provide scholarship of Rs 1,000 per annum to all students of classes 1 to 8 of SC/ST and minority sections in government and governmentaided schools.

Funds for educational development of SC/ST/ OBC and minorities are proposed to be increased from Rs 23.85 crore (2010-11 ) to Rs 124.63 crore (2011-12 ), the CM said.

The CM also said that 9 lakh families identified as vulnerable and most vulnerable under a state sponsored survey will be provided easy access to social entitlements through issue of Unique Identification Numbers and smart cards. An amount of Rs 30 crore is proposed for the preparation and issue of smart cards to eligible households.