New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS): The central government on Wednesday increased the allocation for women and children welfare from Rs 1.56 lakh crore to Rs 1.84 lakh crore.

"For welfare of women and children under various schemes across ministries, I have stepped up allocation from Rs 156,528 crore of 2016-17 to Rs 184,633 crore in 2017-18," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while presenting the Budget 2107-18 in the Lok Sabha.

He said that 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' begins with girl child and women and for that purpose, the government would set up Mahila Shakti Kendras at village level in 14 lakh anganwadi centres with a total allocation of Rs 500 crore.

"This will provide a one-stop conversion support system for empowering rural women with opportunities for employment, skill development, digital literacy, health and nutrition," he said.

The minister added that a nationwide scheme for pregnant women was announced earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 31 last year under which Rs 6,000 will be directly transferred to bank accounts of pregnant women who undergo institutional delivery and vaccinate their children.