Lok Sabha Question No. 1124 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Mahila Shakti Kendra
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Abhay Kumar Sinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1124

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025

## MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRA

## †1124. SHRI ABHAY KUMAR SINHA:

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

- (a) specific  steps  taken  for  the  effective  implementation  of  the  schemes  of  Women Empowerment like 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' and 'Mahila Shakti Kendra' in Bihar particularly in the rural and deprived areas;
- (b) the details of the funds allocated/spent on these schemes in said State during the last three years, district-wise;
- (c) whether any policy of targeted intervention has been made under these schemes to deal with challenges like decline in women's literacy rate and the incidence of gender based violence and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether certain amount of financial assistance meant for remittance to said State under these schemes is still lying pending with the Union Government; and
- (e) if so, the details of the amount lying pending vis-a-vis the schemes concerned, yearwise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) : Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme was launched on 22nd January 2015 to help address declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of girls and women over a life cycle continuum. In the 15 th  Finance Commission Period, BBBP as a component under the SAMBAL vertical of Mission Shakti, has been expanded to cover all the districts of the country including Bihar through  multi-sectoral interventions encouraging greater spend on activities that have on ground impact.

The scheme focuses on creating mindset and behavioural changes towards the girl child by informing, influencing, motivating, engaging, and empowering various stakeholders. To address  this,  Ministry  has  developed  an  operational  manual  which  inter-alia  includes  a thematic calendar for suggested convergence activities at district level with month wise specific  themes  for  holistic  development  of  the  Girl  Child  and  to  ensure  year-round engagement of girls, their families and communities.

For effective implementation, funds are released on the basis of Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) status  of  districts  as  on  2020-21  (as  per  HMIS  data  of  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family Welfare). The financial assistance is provided to the districts with SRB less than or equal to 918 is Rs.40 Lakh per year, the districts with SRB from 919 to 952 is Rs. 30 lakhs per year and the districts having SRB more than 952 is Rs. 20 lakh per year respectively.

The  States/UTs  have  been  authorised  to  utilize  upto  25%  of  the  total  allocation  for advertisements and media advocacy under BBBP scheme using a whole-ofgovernment/convergent approach.

Further, States/UTs can use the fund for implementation of the scheme activities in the following manner:

- i. directly through the districts, or
- ii. partially through the districts with the rest being managed by the State/UT, or
- iii. directly  through the State/UT on behalf of the districts, depending on the specific needs of the State/UT

BBBP  has  transformed  from  a  policy  initiative  into  a  national  movement  by  mobilizing various stakeholders, including government agencies, media, civil society, and the public at large. This movement aims not only to address immediate concerns related to sex ratio and gender-based discrimination but also to foster a cultural shift towards valuing the girl child and ensuring her rights and opportunities.

The details of fund released under BBBP to the State of Bihar during last three years and current year are at Annexure.

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.

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## Annexure

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF THE LOK SABHA UN-STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1124  FOR  ANSWER  ON  25.07.2025  REGARDING 'MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRA' RAISED BY SHRI ABHAY KUMAR SINHA

The details of fund released under BBBP to the State of Bihar during last three years and current year

| Funds released (Rs. in Lakhs)   | Funds released (Rs. in Lakhs)   | Funds released (Rs. in Lakhs)   | Funds released (Rs. in Lakhs)   |
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2022-23                         | 2023-24                         | 2024-25                         | 2025-26 (through SNA SPARSH)    |
| 660.00                          | 0.00                            | 322.5                           | 645.0                           |

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