Lok Sabha Question No. 161 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO: 161 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021

## PRADHAN MANTRI MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRA SCHEME

- *161.   DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  the  Pradhan Mantri  Mahila  Shakti  Kendra Scheme on cost sharing basis, if so, the details thereof and the challenges faced while implementing the scheme in the country including Bihar;
- (b) whether  any  assessment  of  the  scheme  has  been conducted,  if  so,  the  outcome thereof  and  the  corrective  steps  being  taken to  overcome  the  shortcomings  noticed therein;
- (c) the States that are contributing their respective share of funds and the steps taken by the Government to provide more funds;
- (d) whether the State Governments including Bihar have sent proposals for setting up of more centres in various districts under the scheme; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the proposals received and approved along with the funds released for Gopalganj district, Bihar?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.161  FOR  30.07.2021  BY  DR.  ALOK  KUMAR  SUMAN  REGARDING 'PRADHAN MANTRI MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRA SCHEME'

(a) to (c) : The MSK Scheme was approved in November, 2017 as a centrally sponsored scheme to empower rural women through community participation . Under the scheme, capacity building of women was envisaged in not more than 50% of the blocks in aspirational districts to address livelihood needs of women. Besides, block level activities through college student volunteers were envisaged for a maximum of 8 blocks per aspirational district. The MSK  scheme was also approved for 38 districts of Bihar including 13 aspirational districts.

The scheme is implemented through State Governments and UT Administrations with a cost sharing ratio of 60:40 between Centre and States except for North East & Special Category States where the funding ratio is 90:10. For Union Territories 100% central funding is provided. States contribute their respective shares of  funds  for  implementation  of  the  scheme  before  seeking  releases  of  subsequent instalments from Government of India under the scheme.

The challenges faced while implementing the scheme in the country including Bihar,  include non-availability  of  college  faculty  members  in  certain  blocks  in aspirational districts and difficulties in engaging student volunteers. Other challenges in  implementation  of  the  scheme  include  delays  in  sanction  of  matching  grants  in States.

Task  Forces  are  set  up  at  national/  state/  district  levels  for  monitoring  and course correction. State Governments have been requested on different occasions to expedite approvals and release of State share of funds. Video conferences, meetings and visits have also been undertaken from time to time to review and expedite the implementation of the scheme.

Assessment/ evaluation of the Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme has been done by NITI Aayog. The main outcomes of that evaluation study have included setting up of District  Level  Centres  for  Women  in  all  districts,  fresh  identification  of  output indicators, online data repositories and MIS etc.

The Ministry has decided to close the Mahila  Shakti  Kendra  (MSK)  Scheme  in this  financial  year keeping  in  view  the  findings  from  evaluation  study.  A   new  and more  comprehensive  Umbrella  Scheme  for  safety,  security  and  empowerment  of women  under  the  name  'Mission  Shakti',  has  been  launched,  which  includes components  such  as  National,  State  and  District  level  Hubs  for  Empowerment  of Women, Women Help Lines, One Stop Centres, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao etc. for protection and empowerment of women and capacity building in that regard.

- (d)  &  (e)   :  Under  Mahila  Shakti  Kendra  Scheme,  District  Level  Centres  for Women (DLCWs) are approved for all districts as per Census of India, 2011.  Funds have been released for implementing Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme as per approved scheme guidelines, including for different districts of Bihar from time to time.  These have included releases of Rs.25,83,000/- during the year 2018-19 and Rs.48,62,000/during the year 2019-20 for Bihar including for Gopalganj District, for implementation of the MSK Scheme, including for setting up and running of District Level Centres for Women.

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