Lok Sabha Question No. 2830 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: Gender Wealth Gap
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: A. Chellakumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2830

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2023

## GENDER WEALTH GAP

## 2830.   DR. A. CHELLAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- a. whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Willis  Tower  Watson  Global  Gender Wealth Equity 2022 report finds that India has the highest gender wealth gap in Asia and Pacific Region and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- b. whether the Government has details on the gender wealth gap aggregated at the State level, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- c. whether the Government has studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender wealth gap; and
- d. if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Government of India does not monitor this report.
- (b) to (d) Government of India does not compute and maintain gender wealth gap.

Government of India has given utmost priority for economic empowerment of women. Some major initiatives taken for economic empowerment of women are as under:

-  Sakhi Sadan (Working Women ' s Hostel) scheme provides safe and affordable housing for working women and thereby encourages more women to seek employment.
-  Palna , the National Crèche Scheme, ensures that women take up gainful employment through providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment to the children.
-  Hubs for Empowerment of Women (HEW) at National, State and District level have been approved under Mission Shakti. The support under HEW is available for guiding, linking and hand holding women to various institutional and schematic setup for their empowerment and development including equal access to healthcare, quality education, career and vocational counselling/training, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, backward and forward linkages, health and safety for workers, social security and digital literacy at various levels across the country.
-  Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has been initiated by Government, inter alia, for facilitation of self-employment. Under PMMY, collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh are extended to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities. Majority of the beneficiaries under this yojana are women.
-  Stand Up India scheme promotes entrepreneurship amongst women, SC and ST categories, i.e., those sections of the population understood to be facing significant hurdles due to lack of advice/ mentorship as well as inadequate and delayed credit.
-  Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana aims to enable a large number of Indian youths including women to take up industry-relevant skill training in securing a better livelihood.
-  Deen Dayal Antyodaya National Urban Livelihoods Mission focuses on creating opportunities for women in skill development, leading to market-based employment.
-  Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana aims to provide housing under the name of woman also.
-  Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna - Girls have been economically empowered by opening their bank accounts under this scheme.
-  Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojna is an exclusive training programme of MSME aimed at skill development of women artisans engaged in coir industry.

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