Lok Sabha Question No. 290 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas, Bhavana Gawali (Patil)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO *290

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2021

## PRADHAN MANTRI MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRA SCHEME

- *290.   SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI:

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 and if so, the details thereof and the challenges  faced  while  implementing  the  scheme  in  the  country  including Maharashtra;
- (b) whether  any  assessment  of  the  scheme  has  been  made  and  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 along with the steps taken by the Government to provide more funds under this scheme;
- (d) whether the State Governments including Maharashtra have sent proposals for setting up of more centres under the scheme in various districts ; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the proposals received and approved along with the funds released for Wardha and Amaravati districts of Maharashtra?

## 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  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  *290  for 17.12.2021  by  Shri  Ramdas  C.  Tadas,  and  Shrimati  Bhavana  Pundalikrao Gawali regarding 'Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme'

(a)  to  (c)  :  The  Mahila  Shakti Kendra  (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 34 districts of Maharashtra including 4 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 without legislature 100%  central funding is provided. States contribute their respective  shares  of  funds  for  implementation  of  the  scheme  before  seeking releases of subsequent installments from Government of India under the scheme.

The  challenges  faced  while  implementing  the  scheme  in  the  country  including Maharashtra, 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  included  setting  up  of District  Level  Centres  for  Women  in  all  districts,  fresh  identification  of  output indicators, online data repositories and MIS etc.

In view of the findings from evaluation study, the Ministry has started processes for closure of the Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) Scheme in its present form and for launching a new and more comprehensive Umbrella Scheme for safety, security and empowerment of women under the name 'Mission Shakti'.

(d) & (e) : Under Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme, District Level Centres for Women (DLCWs) are approved for 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  Maharashtra  from  time  to  time.  These have included releases of Rs.1,44,63,000/during the year 2018-19 and Rs.22,88,000/- during the year 2019-20 for Maharashtra including for Wardha and Amaravati Districts, for implementation of the MSK Scheme, including for setting up and running of District Level Centres for Women.

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