Lok Sabha Question No. 4553 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Implementation of Nai Roshni scheme in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ms Iqra Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4553

ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## IMPLEMENTATION OF NAI ROSHNI SCHEME IN UTTAR PRADESH

## 4553.  MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number and operational status of all the NGOs, training partners or implementing agencies engaged under  the  Nai Roshni  scheme  since  2020, State  and  district-wise  particularly  for  Uttar Pradesh;
- (b)  the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under the scheme since 2020, State and districtwise particularly for Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) the number of women beneficiaries who have completed the training under this scheme, State and district and Year-wise particularly for Uttar Pradesh; and
- (d)  whether any audit of post-training outcomes has been conducted in order to track the actual benefit of the scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (d): Nai Roshni scheme was launched in 2012-13 and was aimed to empower and enhancing confidence among minority women by generating awareness about women rights and interventions  for  'Leadership  Development'.    The  training  modules  covered  areas  related  to Programmes for women such as Health and Hygiene, Legal Rights of Women, Financial Literacy, Digital Literacy, Swachh Bharat, Life Skills, and Advocacy for Social and Behavioural changes. Nai  Roshni  scheme  was  implemented  through  Project  Implementation  Agencies  (PIAs)  across different states/ UTs, by providing 6 days training and thereafter, hand-holding to all beneficiaries for  a  period  of  up  to  12  months.  Under  Nai  Roshni  scheme,  since  inception,  about  4.35  lakh minority women were trained from all over India including 2.37 lakh from Uttar Pradesh. Further, district-wise data of beneficiaries was not maintained in the said scheme. Besides, the said scheme used to be implemented by Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) empaneled by the Ministry on a project-level basis and not on State-level basis. Accordingly, State/UT-wise or district-wise fund allocation data was not made under the said scheme. However, the details of total budget allocated under the said scheme w.e.f. FY 2020-21 is as follows:-

| Year        |   Budget Estimates(in crore) |   Revised Estimates(in crore) |   Actual Expenditure(in crore) |
|-------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2020-21     |                         10   |                           6   |                           6    |
| 2021-22     |                          8   |                           2.5 |                           2.99 |
| 2022-23     |                          2.5 |                           2   |                           0.62 |
| 2023-24     |                          0.1 |                           0   |                           0    |
| 2024-25     |                          0   |                           0   |                           0    |
| Grand Total |                         20.6 |                          10.5 |                           9.61 |

The Nai Roshni scheme has been discontinued and has been subsumed under an integrated scheme  Pradhan  Mantri  Virasat  Ka  Samvardhan  (PM  VIKAS)  which  converges  five  erstwhile skilling and empowerment schemes of the Ministry and, inter alia, lays emphasis on communitylevel aspirations and challenges, and improving the socio-economic conditions through exposure to relevant skills. The Leadership and Entrepreneurship sub-component of the PM VIKAS scheme focuses on empowering minority women through a three tiered training programs on 'Leadership and Basic Entrepreneurship Development' and 'Entrepreneurship Development', of 60 and 120 hours,  respectively.  Further,  advance  240-hour  training  is  provided  to  selected  participants  to become  Biz  Sakhis  or  Udyami  Mitras,  who  act  as  business  mentors  to  support  other  women entrepreneurs locally.

Additionally,  career  counselling  is  offered  to  all  interested  participants,  aiming  to  guide them toward suitable education, skill training, or employment. Enterprise setup support, including credit and market linkages, is also extended to trained women to help them establish sustainable enterprises aligned with the 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' vision.

The impact and Evaluation Study of Nai Roshni Scheme was conducted and the report is available in public domain on the website of the Ministry (url: https://minorityaffairs.gov.in/WriteReadData/RTF1984/1658406313.pdf)

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