Lok Sabha Question No. 195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 195 ANSWERED ON 02.02.2021

## MAHILA KISAN SASHAKTIKARAN PARIYOJANA

## 195. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  been  able  to  achieve  its  objectives  laid  under  the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  number  of  women  benefited  under  the  Pariyojana  along  with  the  details  and fund allocation thereof;
- (c) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  coverage  under  the scheme;
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  help  revive  agricultural  livelihood options for women under the unlock programme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) Yes sir. Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) was announced in the budget of 2010-11 as a sub-scheme of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) to meet the specific needs of women farmers and achieve socioeconomic  empowerment  and  technical  enablement  of  rural  women  farmers.   A  third  party evaluation study conducted by Nielsen India Pvt. Ltd in FY2019-20 confirms the achievement of these objectives. The major findings of the study are as follows:-
- i)        A higher proportion of households getting any training related to agriculture were engaged in agriculture (57% trained vs. 44% non-trained) in MKSP villages.
- ii)     Households of trained Mahila Kisans have higher average annual income from agriculture, animal husbandry and Non Timber Forest Produce.
- iii)     With  respect  to  diversification  of  livelihoods,  it  was  found  that  a  higher  proportion  of Mahila Kisans now engaged in agriculture as well as livestock-based livelihoods  and  average annual income per household from animal husbandry has also increased.
- iv)      Mahila Kisans are confident about their knowledge on agriculture, crop management and ability to improve income from agriculture and allied services.
- v)       Krishi  Sakhis  and  Pashu  Sakhis  were  reported  as  most  prominent  Community  Resource Persons members who provided support to women farmers in the intervention villages

(b) Till now  38.05 lakh Mahila Kisans have been benefited under Mahila Kisans Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)  through  85  projects  in 24 States and one (1)  Union Territory. Deendayal Antodaya Yojana -National rural Livelihoods Mission  (DAY-NRLM) is a demand  driven  programme  and  MKSP  being  sub-scheme  of  DAY-NRLM  is  also  a  demand driven programme. Under this, SRLMs submit MKSP proposal which gets approval after due appraisal. As on date, a total budget of Rs. 1290.00 crore has been approved under MKSP out of which Rs.864.95 crore is the central share.

(c) The Government has taken the actions to increase the net coverage through horizontal and  vertical  expansion.  Under  horizontal  expansion  the  facilitation  has  been  done  with  the SRLMs to submit new MKSP projects. The farm livelihoods interventions of MKSP have been scaled up through activities approved under Annual Action Plans under the DAY-NRLM. Under vertical expansion, the interventions are deepened through organic certification and value chain interventions.

(d) DAY-NRLM  places  emphasis  on  the  mobilization  and  training  of  the  women  SHG members.  So,  also  under  MKSP,  the  women  farmers  are  mobilized  and  trained  in  agro ecological, Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) and livestock practices. During the lock-down period, the training was affected (where internet was not available) as most of the trainings were through  e-platform.  After  Unlock  orders  permitted  revival  of  the  training,  1.99  lakhs  mahila kisan have been mobilized and added into MKSP fold, during current financial  year.

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