Lok Sabha Question No. 776 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Level Centres for Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 776

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## LEVEL CENTRES FOR WOMEN

776.   SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

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

- (a) whether  any  district  level  centres  for  Women  have  been  established  in Lakshadweep under the Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme;
- (b) if so, the number of such centres operational and the key initiatives undertaken by them; and
- (c) the details of the measures to strengthen community engagement and ensure greater involvement of women in rural areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(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.  A third party evaluation study of MSK scheme was conducted by NITI Aayog in 2020. Taking into account the findings of the evaluation and after consultation with  States/  UTs  and  stakeholders,  the  scheme  was  discontinued  with  effect  from 01.04.2022.

The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  is  now  implementing  the Umbrella Scheme named as 'Mission Shakti' with effect from 01.04.2022 which aim at strengthening  interventions  for  women  safety,  security  and  empowerment.  The Mission Shakti has two verticals 'Sambal' and 'Samarthya'.

The 'Sambal' vertical is for safety and security of women. It has the schemes of One Stop Centres (OSCs), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) and Nari Adalat.

- a. One Stop Centres (OSCs)An institution located at district level offering under one  roof  immediate  help  to  women  in  distress  such  as  temporary  shelter, medical & police assistance, counselling and legal support.
- b. Women Helpline (WHL)The Women Helpline 181 provides toll-free 24-hours telecom service to women seeking support and information. It is also integrated with  Emergency  Response  Support  System  (ERSS)  112  for  all  emergency services and its integration with all One Stop Centres is in progress.
- c. Beti  Bachao  Beti  Padhao  (BBBP)BBBP  is  a  mindset  change  program helping in generating awareness for valuing the girl child through multi-sectoral interventions.
- d. Nari  AdalatAn experimental  platform  providing  women  with  an  alternative Grievance  Redressal  Mechanism  at  Gram  Panchayat  level  by  negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation with mutual consent for speedy, accessible, and affordable justice. It has been piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each of Assam and UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

The  'Samarthya'  vertical  is  for  empowerment  of  women.  It  has  the  schemes  of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Palna and SANKALP : Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW).

- a. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)PMMVY is a Centrally Sponsored Maternity Benefits Scheme under which cash incentive of ₹5,000/is provided directly to the Bank/Post Office account of the beneficiary in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode for first child. Cash incentive of ₹6,000/- is also provided under PMMVY to eligible beneficiaries for second child being a girl child.
- b. Shakti SadanShakti Sadan is an Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for the women in distress situations and difficult circumstances.
- c. Sakhi NiwasThe Sakhi Niwas Scheme (Working Women Hostel) is a demand driven centrally sponsored scheme, under which funds are released directly to the  States/UTs  and  aims  to  promote  availability  of  safe  and  conveniently located  accommodation  for  working  women  in  urban,  semi-urban  and  even rural areas where employment opportunity for women exist.
- d. PalnaPalna  scheme through  day-care  créche  facilities  provides  safe  and secure place for the children. Creche services formalise the child care facilities hitherto considered as part of domestic work and uses Aanganwadi infrastructure for ensuring delivery of care facilities till the last mile
- e. SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW)T he SANKALP: HEW serves as a vehicle to bridge the information and knowledge gap regarding schemes  and  facilities  available  for  women.  It  also  serves  as  a  Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) for all components under Mission Shakti.

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