Lok Sabha Question No. 2210 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Implementation of Key Women Schemes
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri K Radhakrishnan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2210 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## IMPLEMENTATION OF KEY WOMEN SCHEMES

## 2210.  SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of delays/gaps in the implementation of key schemes such as POSHAN Abhiyaan, One Stop Centres and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in the country;
- b) if so, the details of the reasons for the slow utilisation of allocated funds under these schemes during the last three years;
- (c) whether any independent assessment has been conducted to evaluate the impact of these programmes; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  being  taken  to  ensure  effective  delivery  of  services  to women and children, especially among rural and marginalised communities?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d) :  The  Government gives utmost priority to the safety, security, health, education, nutrition and  empowerment  of  all  women  and  children  and  has  adopted  multi-pronged approach to address their educational, social and economic empowerment.

Poshan Abhiyaan (erstwhile National Nutrition Mission) was launched in March 2018. Under the 15th Finance Commission, various components like Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls (of 14-18 years in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern region) have been subsumed under the umbrella Mission called Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) to address the challenge of malnutrition. The schemes under this  mission  are  universal  and  self-selecting  where  there  are  no  entry  barriers  for  any beneficiary to register and receive free services.

One Stop Centre (OSC) is a component of the Sambal vertical under the umbrella Mission Shakti. It provides integrated and immediate support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence and those in distress, both in private and public spaces. It provides services like medical aid, legal aid and advice, temporary shelter, police assistance and psycho-social counselling to needy women.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme is also a component of Sambal vertical under the umbrella Mission Shakti. BBBP Scheme was launched on 22nd January 2015 to help address declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and attendant issue of empowerment of girls and women. The scheme tries to create mindset and behavioural changes towards the girl child by informing, influencing, motivating, engaging, and empowering various stakeholders.

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and Mission Shakti are Centrally Sponsored Scheme and implementation of these scheme lies with the State Governments/UT Administrations.   Funds  are  being  released  on  the  basis  of  guidelines  of  Department  of Expenditure,  prescribed  for  Single  Nodal  agency  (SNA)  or  SNA  SPARSH  of  the  Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Further,  once  in  a  year,  the  Programme  Approval  Board  (PAB)/  Annual  Programme Implementation Plan (APIP) monitors with States and UTs, the progress of activities under the scheme  and  reviews  status  of  achievement  of  objectives,  effective  delivery  of  services  to women and children including rural and marginalized communities.  Apart from this, officials of the Ministry continuously review the scheme through meetings, video conferencing and by making field visits to States/UTs from time to time.

NITI Aayog has conducted an evaluation of the schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development for Financial Years 2019 to 2024. The study found that One Stop Centre (OSC) and Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao (BBBP) are highly relevant and effectively addresses key gender challenges through integrated, data-driven services. By prioritizing vulnerable groups and fostering behaviour change through BBBP, the initiative strengthens women's safety and empowerment across the country. In respect of Poshan Abhiyaan, the study found its relevance to be satisfactory for tackling malnutrition in the country.

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