14-Jul-2022: Ministry of Women and Child Development issues Detailed Guidelines for ‘Mission Shakti’ aimed at Strengthening Interventions for Women Safety, Security and Empowerment
Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued detailed guidelines for ‘Mission Shakti' scheme. The Government of India has launched 'Mission Shakti' - an integrated women empowerment programme as umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of women for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period 202l-22 to 2025-26. The norms of ‘Mission Shakti’ will be applicable with effect from 01.04.2022.
‘Mission Shakti’ is a scheme in mission mode aimed at strengthening interventions for women safety, security and empowerment. It seeks to realise the Government’s commitment for “women-led development‟ by addressing issues affecting women on a life-cycle continuum basis and by making them equal partners in nation-building through convergence and citizen-ownership.
The scheme seeks to make women economically empowered, exercising free choice over their minds and bodies in an atmosphere free from violence and threat. It also seeks to reduce the care burden on women and increase female labour force participation by promoting skill development, capacity building, financial literacy, access to micro-credit etc.
‘Mission Shakti’ has two sub-schemes - 'Sambal' and 'Samarthya'. While the "Sambal" sub-scheme is for safety and security of women, the "Samarthya" sub-scheme is for empowerment of women. The components of 'Sambal' sub-scheme consist of erstwhile schemes of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) with a new component of Nari Adalats - women's collectives to promote and facilitate alternative dispute resolution and gender justice in society and within families.
The components of 'Samarthya' sub-scheme consist of erstwhile schemes of Ujjwala, Swadhar Greh and Working Women Hostel have been included with modifications. In addition, the existing schemes of National Creche Scheme for children of working mothers and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) under umbrella ICDS have now been included in Samarthya. A new component of Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment has also been added in the Samarthya Scheme.
6-Aug-2021: Participation of Women in the Workforce
In order to promote women empowerment and their safety to increase their participation in workforce, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to launch a new and more comprehensive Umbrella Scheme for safety, security and empowerment of women under the name 'Mission Shakti', while including in it components such as National, State and District level Hubs for Empowerment of Women, Women Help Lines, One Stop Centres, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Working Women’s Hostels, crèches for children of working women etc.
The schemes of One Stop Centres and Universalisation of Women Helpline are being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to support women facing violence of any kind which may also adversely impact on their participation in workforce.
The Government, with the aim to provide safe and secure work environment to women and to increase their participation in the workforce, has enacted ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’ (SH Act). The Act covers all women, irrespective of their age or employment status and protect them from sexual harassment at all workplaces whether public or private, organized or unorganized. The Act casts an obligation upon employers to provide a safe and secure working environment free from sexual harassment by constituting Internal Committees (ICs) for workplaces with ten or more workers and by displaying at conspicuous places the penal consequences of sexual harassment and the orders constituting ICs. Similarly, Local Committees (LCs) are to be constituted under the Act in districts to receive complaints in organizations having less than 10 workers or if complaints are against employers themselves. Employers are also required to organize workshops and awareness programmes at regular intervals for sensitizing the employees about the provisions of this legislation.
In order to enhance the employability of female workers, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial Training institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes. To ensure economic independence of women through skill development and vocational training, the Government has also introduced Skill India Mission. The National Skill Development Policy focuses on inclusive skill development, with the objective of increased women participation for better economic productivity. There are schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Stand Up India, for helping the women to set up their own enterprises. Further, the Labour Codes, viz. the Code on Wages 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code on Social Security, 2020 which have been enacted in the last two years, collectively include provisions to promote participation of women in workforce in a dignified manner.
29-Jul-2021: 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.
8-Apr-2022: AAI Airports providing platform to Self-Help Groups for promotion of local artisans and products through ‘AVSAR’ Scheme
In the line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to encourage the talent of women, artisans and craftsmen and provide them with the right opportunities, Airport Authority of India (AAI) has taken an initiative to allocate space to Self Help Groups (SHGs) at its airports for selling/showcasing the self-made products of their region.
Under “AVSAR” (Airport as Venue for Skilled Artisans Of The Region), which is an initiative of AAI, an opportunity to help the indigent to mobilize their households into functionally effective self-earned groups for self-reliance and self-dependence, has been provided. Under this scheme, an area of 100-200 square feet has been earmarked at each AAI operated airport. The space is being allotted to the self- help groups, turn on turn basis, for a duration of 15 days. Few outlets have already been commissioned at Chennai, Agartala, Dehradun, Kushinagar, Udaipur & Amritsar Airport wherein SHGs operated by local women, are showcasing and marketing their homemade local products like Puffed Rice, Packaged Papad, Pickles, Bamboo based Ladies Bag/Bottle/Lamp Sets, local artefacts, traditional craft, natural dyes, embroidery and indigenous weaves with contemporary design to the air travellers.
More AAI Airports are in the process of allotting space in coordination with State Governments to such Self-Help Groups which includes Ranchi, Kolkata, Varanasi, Indore, Bhopal, Vadodara, Ranchi, Belagavi, Madurai, Coimbatore, Calicut, Surat, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Silchar, Dibrugarh and Jorhat.
Self-help Groups are India’s most powerful channels for empowering small and rural communities to move from subsistence to sustainability. Government is constantly creating an atmosphere to strengthen the SHGs. Many such groups are excellent producers, creators of local arts, craft, useful and quality products with demand from the consumers and they need opportunity and space to showcase their products. The initiative to strengthen SHGs by allotting space at AAI Airports will provide huge visibility to these small groups and prepare them to promote/market their products to the wider spectrum, reaching out to the larger population.
Applications from self-help groups are received on AAI portal (Airport Wise) for allotment at airport in that particular state where the SHG’s are located. The interested SHG’s need to apply through AAI portal - https://www.aai.aero/en/node/add/shg-user-detail.
6-Apr-2022: Swadhar Greh
The total number of Swadhar Grehs currently operational in the country is 357.
Swadhar Greh Scheme has been evaluated by the NITI Aayog. The major recommendations of this evaluation inter-alia include integration of Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala Homes, revision of the salary norms of the staff and use of information technology tools in the implementation of the Scheme. This scheme is now part of the new Mission Shakti which has life cycle continuum approach to women related issues. The recommendations have been duly incorporated in Mission Shakti.
The Swadhar Greh scheme envisages monitoring of its implementation at District, State and Central level. Swadhar Grehs are monitored continuously by a District Monitoring Committee where at least two members are women and the district committee meets at least once in a quarter. Monitoring Committee at State level meets at least twice a year and monitors the projects. Continuation of grant to any agency depends on the satisfactory performance as assessed by the State/UT level Committee. Ministry of Women and Child Development also reviews the functioning of the Swadhar Greh at regular intervals with the State Governments/UT administrations.
As per the Scheme Guidelines, the implementing agency is required to display the name, telephone numbers and address of the Swadhar Greh in capital letters in local language along with the name and telephone numbers of District level officers concerned and the facilities available in the Swadhar Greh at a prominent place in the Swadhar Greh. Under the new Mission Shakti, it is envisaged to revise the Scheme guidelines to make them more useful for the beneficiaries and spread awareness about these homes through the National Hub for Empowerment of Women.
1-Apr-2022: Redressal Mechanism Under Swadhar Greh Scheme
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme revised with effect from 1st April 2016. The Scheme caters to primary needs of women in difficult circumstances – women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism or are being forced into prostitution and are in mortal danger. Through the provisions of shelter, food, clothing, counseling, training, clinical and legal aid, the Scheme aims to rehabilitate such women in difficult circumstance economically and emotionally.
Swadhar Greh Scheme envisages monitoring of the implementation of the scheme at District, State and Central level. Swadhar Grehs are monitored by a District Monitoring Committee where at least two members are women. District committee meets at least once in a quarter. Monitoring committee at State level meets at least twice a year and monitors the projects. Continuation of grant to any agency depends on the satisfactory performance as assessed by the State/UT level committee. Ministry of Women and Child Development also reviews the functioning of the Swadhar Greh at regular intervals with the State Government/ UT Administration. As per scheme guidelines, in case of unlawful activities including sexual, mental and physical harassment of inmate by the members of management and staff, the grant will be stopped and blacklisting of the implementing agency will be done without prejudice to criminal action. Data on the number of complaints received and disposed off is not maintained at the Central level.
3-Dec-2021: Swadhar Greh Scheme
Government implements the Swadhar Greh Scheme that caters to primary needs of women in difficult circumstances – women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism or are being forced into prostitution and are in mortal danger. The scheme provides institutional support for rehabilitation of these women so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing, counseling, training, clinical and legal aid along with economic and social security for the women victims of difficult circumstances.
The funding pattern for the release of funds is 60:40 between the Central Government and States except for North-Eastern and Himalayan States where the applicable sharing ratio is 90:10. In case of Union Territories, the entire cost is borne by the Central Government. Funds to the States/UTs are released in two installments every year. Allocation is decided considering the number of operational projects, number of new projects likely to be sanctioned in the year and availability of resources. First installment amounting to 50% of allocated grant is released in the beginning of the Financial Year and Second installment is released after 60%of the first installment has been utilized.
The Scheme is open to all the women falling under the Scheme criteria due to any reasons, including Covid-19. Segregated details are not available.
The organizations assisting Government in implementation of said Scheme are one of the following: State Government agencies including Women Development Corporations established by the State Governments; Central or State Autonomous Bodies; Municipal Bodies; Cantonment Boards; Panchayati Raj Institutions and Co-operative Institutions; Departments of Women and Child Development/Social Welfare of the State Governments which may construct Swadhar Greh and run them on their own or lease them to organization(s) having requisite experience; Public Trusts registered under any law for the time being in force; Civil Society Organizations such as NGOs etc. having proven track record of working in the fields of women’s welfare/social welfare/ women’s education subject to the condition that such organization is registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860 or any relevant State Act.
The organization stated above should meet the following criteria: (i) It should be either recognized by the State/ UT Administration under existing Scheme/law or should be well known with the experience of working in the field for at least 3 years and its work should be reported to be satisfactory by the State Government/Union Territory Administration concerned, (ii) It should ordinarily have been engaged in the field of women’s welfare/ social welfare/women’s education for a minimum period of two years prior to the request for grant-in-aid under the scheme, (iii) It should have facilities, resources, personnel and experience to undertake the management of such a project, (iv) Its financial position should be sound to take care of expenditure for a few months in case the grant is delayed, (v) It should run the Swadhar Greh on a no-profit basis, (vi) The organization should have facilities like computers, internet connection etc. at Swadhar Greh.
The existing Swadhar Greh Scheme is effective from 01.01.2016 and has benefitted thousands of destitute women in different States/UTs. For proper implementation of the Scheme, monitoring is done at three levels, i.e., District level, State level and Central level.
6-Apr-2018: Swadhar Greh Scheme
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the women victims of difficult circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security for these women.
As per guidelines of the Swadhar Greh Scheme, to seek financial assistance the agency should meet following requirements:
- The agency should be either recognized by State/UT under existing law or should be well known with the experience or working in the field for at least 3 years and its work should be reported satisfactory by the State Govt./UT Administration concerned.
- It should ordinarily have been engaged in the field of women’s welfare/social welfare for a minimum period of two years
- Its financial position should be sound
- It should have facilities, resources, experience and personnel to undertake the management of such project
- It should run Swadhar Greh on a no-profit basis and
- It should have facilities like computers, internet connection etc. at Swadhar Greh.
The State Governments/UT Administration invite applications from eligible organizations and the proposals which fulfil the norms are placed before a Project Sanctioning Committee (PSC) chaired by Secretary(WCD) of the State/UT concerned and comprising representatives from the Finance and Labour Department of the State/UT in addition to any other representative as the State Government/UT administration may decide. The State Governments/UT Administrations assess the number of new projects required in the State/UT and communicate to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, along with the justification by 30th September of every year. Subject to availability of resources, the central Government communicates number of projects those can be approved and make necessary provision in the budget of subsequent financial year.
Swadhar Greh is a DBT compliant scheme. Gazette Notification has been issued and the same has been forwarded to the State Governments/UT Administrations with the request to furnish the data of beneficiaries.
9-Feb-2018: 559 Swadhar Greh presently functional in the country with 17231 beneficiaries
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is administering Swadhar Greh Scheme for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances including the victims of sexual harassment. Similarly, a centrally sponsored scheme namely Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is being implemented for care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances including sexually harassed children.