Lok Sabha Question No. 3427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Self-employment of Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 3427

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022

## SELF-EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN

## 3427.   SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has prepared any roadmap for launching any scheme related to self-employment of women;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any change had been noticed in the outlook of the citizens toward girl child after the launch of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao scheme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): 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.  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Kendras  lay  emphasis  on  creating additional infrastructure both for training and apprenticeship for women; flexible training delivery mechanisms, flexible afternoon batches on local need-based training to accommodate women; and ensuring safe and gender sensitive training environment, employment of women trainers, equity in remuneration, and complaint redressal mechanism. There are schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Stand Up India, Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), for helping the women to set up their own enterprise. Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana,  over  68%  beneficiaries  are  women.  Similarly  under  Stand  Up  India,  81%  of  the beneficiaries  are  women.  Under  Deen  Dayal  Antyodaya  Yojana  -  National  Rulal  Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), as on 30 th June,  2022,  about  8.39  crore rural  poor  women have been mobilized  into  more  than  76.94  lakh  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs).  The  Government  has  also launched Start-up India scheme, which supports women start-ups.

Further, in order to encourage employment of women, a number of enabling provisions have been incorporated in the recently enacted Labour Codes viz. the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020  and  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  for  creating  congenial  work  environment  for women  workers.  Stand  Up  India  scheme  promotes  entrepreneurship  amongst  women.  The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) mandates that at  least  one  third  of  the  jobs  generated  under  the  scheme  (MGNREGS)  should  be  given  to women. Government has also made enabling provisions for allowing women's participation in non-conventional sectors such as fighter pilots in Indian Air Force, Commandos, Central Police Forces,  admissions  in  Sainik  Schools  etc.  The  Government  also  implements  the  scheme  of Working Women Hostels for providing safe accommodation to working women.

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has also taken various measures for the development of Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) and creation of more employment opportunities for citizens, including women, in the country.  People are trained under various activities for the creation of employment/ selfemployment  opportunities  through  various  Departmental  and  Non-Departmental  Training Centres of KVIC and Training programmes organized by the field offices of KVIC under various programmes. Apart from above, KVIC have skilled people through its various skill development training programmes in disciplines like Bee keeping, Fruits and Vegetables processing, Bakery course, Tailoring and Embroidery, Soap and Detergent making, Beautician course, etc.

(c)  &  (d):  Beti  Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) aims to address declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and promoting education, and holistic development and empowerment of girls over a life cycle continuum.  The  key  elements  of  the  scheme  include  nation-wide  media  and  advocacy campaign and multi-sectoral interventions.

BBBP has been designed to bring an attitudinal shift in the society towards valuing the girl child. The  advocacy  campaigns  under  BBBP  have  been  able  to  successfully  establish  the  brand BBBP, which has an excellent recall  value.  As  on  outcome  of  carefully  crafted  BBBP  media campaigns, the tagline has become immensely popular.

Due to sustained efforts of Government, including under BBBP, Sex Ratio at Birth at National level has improved by 19 points from 918 in 2014-15 to 937 in 2020-21; enrollment of Girls in secondary education has increased from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 79.46% in 2020-21;  percentage of  1 st Trimester ANC Registration has shown improvement from 61% in 2014-15 to 73.9% in 2020-21;  percentage  of  Institutional  Deliveries  has  also  shown  an  improvement  from  87%  in 2014-15 to 94.8% in 2020-21.

The positive outcomes of the various initiatives taken by the Government can be seen from the data of National Family Health Survey - 5 (NFHS-5) which shows that the status of women has improved over the past 5 years (as compared to NFHS-4) on many counts. Today, over 78.6% of  women own bank accounts that they themselves use, that show an improvement by 25% over last 5 years. This implies that 3 out of 4 women own bank accounts that they themselves use. Today, 54% women or 1 out of 2 women in India own mobile phones that they themselves use in comparison to 46% five years back. 43% women in India today own either a house or land alone or jointly which was 38% five years ago. 1 out of 5 non-farm businesses are headed and led by women today. 45% of manufacturing enterprises (proprietary establishments) were headed by women. Compared to ten years ago three times more girls complete 10 or more years of education. NFHS-5 data shows 41% women complete 10 years or more of schooling compared  to  14.3%  in  NFHS-3  (2005-06)  10  years  ago.  71%  women  are  literate  today compared to 55% in 2005-06.

Increasingly we see our society transforming where men respect women's opinions as partners in the household. More women participate in major household decisions today. NFHS-5 shows that  88.7% women participate in major household decisions today as against 84% five years ago. The incidence of spousal violence has reduced considerably in the past ten years. NFHS-5 shows that 29% married women report experiencing spousal violence as compared to 39% 10 years ago and 33% five years ago.

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