Lok Sabha Question No. 5582 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Impact of Mission Shakti
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5582 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2025

## IMPACT OF MISSION SHAKTI

## 5582.   SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of Mission Shakti particularly the effectiveness  of  One  Stop  Centres  (OSCs)  in  providing  support  services  to  women facing violence and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of women benefited from the Women Helpline (181-WHL) along with the major categories of assistance provided under this initiative;
- (c) the details of the progress made under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme in improving the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of girls in secondary education since its inception;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any steps to strengthen economic empowerment programs like Shakhi Niwas/Palna, if so, the details of their expansion along with fund allocations; and
- (e) the details of the measures being taken to further reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) enhance  the  infrastructure  and  reach  of  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and Poshan 2.0?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Evaluation of the schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development was conducted during the Financial Year 2020-21 by NITI Aayog. The study found the relevance, effectiveness,  and  sustainability  of  the  various  schemes  as  satisfactory  including  One  Stop

Centre. Based on the report Ministry has launched Mission Shakti guidelines for implementation during the 15 th  Finance Commission up to FY 2025-26. Mission Shakti has two sub-schemes namely "Sambal" for safety and security of women and "Samarthya" for empowerment of women.

One Stop Center (OSC) is component of Sambal vertical which provides integrated support and  assistance  to  women  affected  by  violence  in  both  private  and  public  spaces.  It  offers services such as medical aid, legal support and advice, temporary shelter, police assistance, and psychosocial counselling to women in need. As on date, 818 OSCs are functional across the country and over 10.98 lakhs women have been assisted till 28.02.2025 since inception in April, 2015.

Women Helpline (WHL) is component of Sambal vertical which provides 24-hour telephonic assistance through a universal toll-free number (181) by connecting women for emergency and non- emergency needs and over 85.32 lakhs women have been assisted till 28.02.2025 since inception in April, 2015.

Ministry  monitors  the  progress  of  activities  under  Mission  Shakti  and  reviews  status  of achievement  of  objectives  through  yearly  Programme  Approval  Board  meetings  with  the States/UTs. Apart from this, officials of the Ministry also review the Mission Shakti schemes through meetings, video conferencing and by making occasional field visits to States and UTs.

(c): Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme was launched on 22 nd  January 2015 to address declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of girls and women over a  life  cycle  continuum.  The  scheme  focuses  on  creating  mindset  change  and  behavioural change towards the girl child by informing, influencing, motivating, engaging, and empowering all stakeholders.

BBBP has transformed from a policy initiative into a national movement by mobilizing various stakeholders, including government agencies, media, civil society, and the general public. 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.

As per the reports of Health Management Information System (HMIS) of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has increased from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24 at national level with a net addition of 12 points. Further, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls in the schools at secondary level has increased from 75.51 percent in (2014-15) to 78 percent in (2023-24) [UDISE-data, MoE].

(d): The Samarthya vertical under Mission Shakti is for empowerment of women and includes components/schemes of Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Palna and SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (SANKALP: HEW).

Sakhi Niwas under Samarthya vertical aims to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women in urban, semi-urban and also in rural areas where employment opportunity for women exists. Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided for running of Sakhi Niwas in rented premises for working women and for those women who are under training for job. Provision of Day Care Centre for children of the residents of the Sakhi Niwas is an important aspect of the scheme.

The  objective  of Palna scheme  is  to  provide  quality  crèche  facility  in  safe  and  secure environment  for  children  (from  ages  6  months  -  6  years),  nutritional  support,  health  and cognitive development of children, growth monitoring, immunization, education etc. Crèche facilities under Palna are provided to all mothers, irrespective of their employment status. There are  two  type  Crèches  under  Palna  component:  Standalone  Crèches  and  Anganwadi-cumCrèches.

The Ministry has extended the services of childcare through Anganwadi cum Crèche. This will ensure whole day childcare support ensuring their well-being in a safe and secure environment. Anganwadi cum Crèche initiative aims to increase the women work force participation in the economy. As on date, 11395 AWCCs have been approved as per proposals received from various States and UTs and out of which 1761 AWCCs are operational across the country.

The detail of fund released to States and UTs during last three years under Palna and Sakhi Niwas scheme is mentioned below.

(Rs. in crore)

| Scheme      |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|-------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Palna       |      4.68 |     64.15 |     45.17 |
| Sakhi Niwas |     17.63 |      4.52 |      8.13 |

(e) :  Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the Government has taken several steps to reduce Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and improve maternal and child health. Initiatives like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) promote institutional deliveries through conditional cash transfers, while Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) ensures free delivery, including Csections, along with transport, medicines, diagnostics, and diet for pregnant women in public health facilities. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) provides free, quality antenatal  checkups  on  the  9th  of  every  month,  with  additional  tracking  for  high-risk pregnancies. Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN)  guarantees respectful, quality healthcare to prevent maternal and neonatal deaths, and LaQshya aims to improve the quality of  care  in  labor  rooms  and  maternity  operation  theaters.  Additionally,  Village  Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Days (VHSND) at Anganwadi centers provide maternal and child care, including nutrition, while outreach camps extend healthcare services to tribal and remote areas. As per the Registrar General of India, India's MMR has declined from 130 in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20.

Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, there is a provision of construction of 50,000 AWCs buildings over a period of five years @10,000 AWCs per year. The cost norms for construction of Anganwadi Centres in convergence with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) have been revised from Rs.7 Lakh per AWC to Rs.12 Lakh per AWC shared between Centre and States/UTs in the prescribed cost sharing ratio.

Further, in order to improve the infrastructure facility of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), various steps have been undertaken by the Ministry, inter alia, increasing the funding for drinking water facilities  and  toilets.  Moreover,  2  lakh  AWCs  located  in  Government  buildings  @  40,000 AWCs per year are strengthened and upgraded as Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition delivery and for Early Childhood Care and Education under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. Saksham Anganwadis are provided with better infrastructure than the conventional Anganwadi Centres including LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine, Poshan Vatika, ECCE related books and learning material etc.

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