Lok Sabha Question No. 5006 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Socio-Economic Development of Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Chhatar Singh Darbar, Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5006

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2022

## SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN

†5006. SHRI CHHATAR SINGH DARBAR: SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  schemes  being  run  by  the  Government  for  gender  equality/socioeconomic development and empowerment of women in rural and tribal areas of the country;
- (b)        whether the desired results under the said schemes have been achieved and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)       whether the Government proposes to launch any new scheme for the development and empowerment of women in the country; and
- (d)         if so, the steps being taken by the Government in this direction?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  :  The schemes and programmes implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for empowerment of women in the country including for women in rural and tribal areas are as under:

1. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme
3. One Stop Centre (OSC)
4. Universalisation of Women Helpline
5. Swadhar Greh Scheme
6. Ujjawala Scheme
7. Working Women Hostel
8. Gender Budget, Research & Publication

The outcome of above schemes are (i) assistance to over 2.6 crore pregnant women and  lactating  mothers,  (ii)   improvement  in  Sex  Ratio  at  Birth  (SRB)  from  918  to  937  and increased enrollment of girls in primary and secondary education which is almost at par with boys, (iii)  operationalisation of 704 OSCs out of 733 approved assisting 4.9 lakh women, (iv) operationalisation  of  WHL  in  34  States  /  UTs  that  have   handled  over  68  lakh  calls,  (v) functionalisation  of  107  Ujjawala  homes  having  assisted  6175  number  of  inmates,  (vi) functionalisation  of  367  Swadhar  Greh  having  assisted  17291  number  of  inmates,  (vii) assistance to 450 Working Women Hostels having assisted 74666 working women and 11018 children  in  day  care  centre,  and  (viii)  implementation  of  gender  budgeting  in  41  Ministries  / Departments and reported allocation of Rs. 1.71 lakh crore etc.

In  addition  to  above,  the  Government  of  India  has  taken  various  steps  to  ensure empowerment  of  women  through  their  social,  educational,  economic  and  political  uplifting through various schematic interventions. While the schemes implemented by the Government like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban & Rural),  the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)  ensure  that  the  women  are  socially  sound,  the  initiatives  like  Samagra  Shiksha, Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna, Swacch Vidyalaya Mission, etc. promote girl's education especially for vulnerable  sections  of  society  and  have  adequate  facilities  in  place  to  fulfill  their  special requirements.

Further,  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020  prioritises  gender  equity  and envisions  ensuring  equitable  access  to  quality  education  to  all  students,  with  a  special emphasis on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).

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 the Swacch Vidyalaya Mission, it was ensured that all schools have at least one functional toilet for girls. Pradhan Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojna  (PMUY)  aims  to  safeguard  the  health  of  women  by  providing them with clean cooking fuel  and  also from  drudgery  of  collecting  firewood.  The  outcome  in respect of these schemes are maintained by the respective Ministries/ Departments.

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.

(c) & (d) : The Government of India has also decided to implement the Umbrella Scheme for Safety, Security and Empowerment of Women as an integrated women empowerment program under the name 'Mission Shakti', for addressing the issues of women on a life-cycle continuum basis and for making them equal partners in nation-building through convergence at different levels of governance and a participative approach.

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