Lok Sabha Question No. 3458 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment of Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri G Lakshminarayana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3458

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026

## GAP FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

## 3458. SHRI G. LAKSHMINARAYANA:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  year  in  which  the  Gap  Funding  for  Economic  Empowerment  component  under  the Samarthya sub-scheme of Mission Shakti was operationalised indicating its key objectives;
- (b) the details of proposals received under this component since its inception. State/UT-wise and year-wise:
- (c) the current status of said proposals, including the amount approved, allocated, release and utilised;
- (d) whether the Ministry has issued any guidelines specifying eligibility criteria, permissible activities  and  monitoring  and  evaluation  mechanisms  for  Gap  Funding,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e) whether the Ministry proposes to place any data on proposal approvals/fund utilisation in the public domain to enhance transparency and inter-State comparison. State/UT-wise, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether any indicators/assessment framework has been developed to measure the outcomes of  Gap  Funding  on  women's  economic  empowerment,  including  income  enhancement employment generation and enterprise creation, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)  to  (f)      Mission  Shakti  aims  at  strengthening  interventions  for  women  safety,  security  and empowerment. Mission  Shakti  comprises  of  two  verticals  'Sambal'  for  safety  and  security  of women and 'Samarthya' for empowerment of women. The 'Sambal' has components of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) and Nari Adalat (Nari Adalat). The 'Samarthya' has components of Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Padhan Mantri Matru

Vandana  Yojana  (PMMVY),  Palna  and  SANKALP:  Hub  for  Empowerment  of  Women (SANKALP: HEW).

SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) is a component of Samarthya Sub-scheme under Umbrella Mission Shakti. It aims to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women both at the central (NHEW), State/ UT level (SHEW) and district level (DHEW). It started on 1 st April 2022 under the 15 th Finance Commission cycle.

Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) known as SANKALP: HEW (Supportive Action for Nurturing and Knowledge-Based Advancement, Last-Mile Delivery and Potential Realization of Women : Hub for Empowerment of Women), set up at National, State and District levels  for empowerment  of  women  with  aims  to  facilitate  inter-sectoral  convergence  of  schemes  and programs meant for women at Central, State/ UT and district levels with the mandate to create an environment in which women realize their full potential to address gaps in state action for women and  for  promoting  inter-ministerial  and  inter-sectoral  convergence  through  strengthening  the processes that promote holistic empowerment of women by creating an environment conducive to social change by improving access and utilization of government schemes.

Under the Scheme, cost sharing between Centre and States is 60:40, except in respect of North Eastern and Special Category States, where the cost sharing ratio is 90:10 and for UTs without Legislature, it is 100% central funding.

Further, no proposals have been received for Critical Gap Funding in the Programme Approval Board (PAB) meetings held every year during the 15 th  Finance Commission period for Mission Shakti.

*****