Empowerment of Rural Women

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) of the Government of India has decided to introduce from the current financial year, a new umbrella scheme for overall safety, security and empowerment of women under the name ‘Mission Shakti’ as an integrated women empowerment program, including components such as National, State and District level Hubs for Empowerment of Women, Women Help Lines, One Stop Centres, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sakhi Niwas or Working Women Hostels, Shakti Sadans or homes for destitute and troubled women, crèches, etc.

The Ministry of WCD has been implementing the Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) scheme since November 2017 to empower rural women through community participation, for linking to government schemes and programmes and for awareness generation. The MSK scheme also aimed at giving a foothold to the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme at the district level. The funds allocated under the scheme during FY 2018-19 to 2020-21can be seen at Annexure.

Further, various other Ministries of the Government of India have also been taking steps for the overall progress of rural women in the country. Under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the guidelines of various beneficiary oriented schemes of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provide for States and other implementing agencies to incur at least 30% expenditure on women farmers. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship implements the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) as a flagship scheme with the components of Short Term Training (STT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Under PMKVY, unemployed youth including rural women are provided short duration skill training to become employable and earn their livelihood. As on 10.07.2021, 47,21,529 women candidates have been trained under PMKVY.

This information was given by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.