Women Empowerment Schemes, Government Initiatives for Empowering Women in India 2023

Aditi Sinha July 30, 2023 07:58 15951 0

Women Empowerment Schemes, Government Initiatives for Empowering Women in India 2023

Women Empowerment Schemes

 

Women Empowerment Schemes: Women empowerment is a crucial aspect of societal progress, emphasizing inclusivity and equal participation in decision-making processes. It aims to provide women with the same opportunities for growth and development as men while challenging gender bias. Article 15(3) of the Indian Constitution emphasizes the welfare of women and children, allowing the State to make special provisions for their benefit. Recognizing the significance of this cause, the Ministry for Women and Child Development partnered with Facebook on November 19, 2019, to enhance digital literacy and online safety under the “We Think Digital” campaign.

Empowering Women and Children in India

In India, women and children hold a vital place in society, yet they remain vulnerable to various challenges. To address this, the government has introduced a range of women empowerment schemes, all listed under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. These schemes play a pivotal role in various competitive examinations, including the UPSC and other government exams.

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Government Initiatives for Women Empowerment in India

The Central Government, in collaboration with State Governments, has launched numerous schemes dedicated to empowering women across India. These initiatives are designed to provide women with equal access to resources, opportunities, decision-making power, and capacity building. Women empowerment can be achieved through education, skill development, and increasing employment opportunities, among other measures. Let’s explore some of the key government schemes for women empowerment.

Women Empowerment Schemes in India

Scheme Name Beneficiaries Target Sector Who are Eligible Launch Year
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme Primary Group, Secondary Groups, Tertiary Groups Women and Child Welfare Family with a girl child below 10 years of age, and a Sukanya Samriddhi Account in a nationalised bank. 2015
One Stop Centre Scheme Women affected by violence Women and Child Development Ministry All women affected by violence, irrespective of age, class, caste, region, religion, or marital status. 2015
Women Helpline Scheme Women or girls facing violence Women and Child Development Ministry No specific data available. 2016
UJJAWALA Women and children vulnerable to trafficking Women and Child Development Ministry To prevent trafficking and provide rehabilitation services. 2016
Working Women Hostel Working Women Women and Child Care Development Ministry Women whose husband/family doesn’t reside in the same city, and those undertaking training for a job. 1972-73
SWADHAR Greh Women in distress Women and Child Development Ministry Women aged 18 years or above. 2018
Support to Training and Employment Program for Women (STEP) Marginalised rural and urban women Women and Child Development Women aged 16 years or above, Institutions/NGOs registered under specific acts. 1986-87
Nari Shakti Puraskar Individuals/institutions promoting women’s progress Women and Child Development Individuals and institutions working for women’s development. 2016
Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK) Rural women Women and Child Development Must be a resident of India. 2017
NIRBHAYA Women’s safety Women and Child Development Women and Girl children 2012
Mahila E-Haat Women entrepreneurs, SHGs, NGOs Women and Child Development Women entrepreneurs must be Indian citizens and sell legal products. 2016
Mahila Police Volunteers Indian women Ministry of Women and Child Development and Home Affairs Age above 21, 12th-grade certificate, local language proficiency, no criminal record, not a member of any political party. 2016

 

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Recent News regarding Empowering Women in India 2023

  1. In a significant address at the United Nations, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, emphasized India’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment across all developmental aspects. She highlighted the government’s successful Financial Inclusion Initiative, which has integrated over 200 million women into the formal banking system. Utilizing digital technologies innovatively, women now have equal access to insurance, loans, and social assistance.
  1. Furthering the cause of women’s empowerment, Microsoft has joined hands with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to impart digital skills to more than one lakh underserved women in India. This partnership extends Microsoft’s existing efforts to provide digital skills to over one lakh youth in the country. The collaborative program aims to conduct live training sessions and digital skilling drives, offering opportunities for young girls and women, especially first-time job seekers and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, to enter the future workforce.
  2. Addressing the growing attention to women’s empowerment in India, an NGO has taken a remarkable step to foster financial independence among disadvantaged women. The Azad Foundation’s “Women on Wheels” program empowers impoverished women by establishing an all-women cab company. This initiative provides a stable income source for these women while creating a safe environment for them to travel without fear of harassment.

With these recent developments, women’s empowerment in India is gaining momentum and receiving the attention it deserves. Through financial inclusion, digital upskilling, and innovative initiatives like the all-women cab company, India is taking substantial strides toward creating an equitable and empowered society for women.

 

Classification of Women Empowerment Schemes in India

Women Empowerment Schemes in India can be categorized into two main groups:

 

  1. Static Women Empowerment Schemes
  • These are the schemes implemented permanently by the government.
  • They aim to address long-term issues related to women’s empowerment.
  • Static schemes focus on creating sustainable opportunities and support systems for women.

 

  1. Dynamic Women Empowerment Schemes
  • These schemes are implemented for a specific period of time.
  • They target immediate challenges or time-bound objectives.
  • Dynamic schemes are designed to respond to evolving needs and circumstances in women’s empowerment.

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Objectives of Women Empowerment Schemes

 

Women Empowerment Scheme

 

The primary objectives of Women Empowerment Schemes are:

  1. Access to Education: To ensure that women have equal access to education and educational opportunities, enabling them to enhance their knowledge and skills.
  1. Financial Assistance: To provide financial support and assistance to women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, to empower them economically and reduce financial barriers.
  1. Employment Opportunities: To create avenues for women to access better employment opportunities, including skill development and vocational training programs.
  1. Promotion of Health and Well-being: To focus on women’s health and well-being, ensuring access to healthcare services and awareness programs.

 

Different Women Empowerment Schemes

 

Various women empowerment schemes exist, including:

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  1. Women Empowerment Schemes by State Governments: State governments introduce specific schemes tailored to address the unique needs of women in their respective regions.
  1. Economic Development Schemes for Women: Schemes that aim to promote women’s economic independence and entrepreneurship through financial assistance, training, and capacity building.
  1. Women Education Schemes: Initiatives that encourage and facilitate women’s education by offering scholarships, educational grants, and programs focused on increasing literacy among women.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The five types of empowerment of women are economic empowerment (financial independence and equal opportunities), educational empowerment (access to education and knowledge), social empowerment (active participation in decision-making), health empowerment (access to healthcare and well-being), and legal empowerment (awareness of rights and legal support).

The government schemes for women entrepreneurs include Annapurna Scheme, Bharatiya Mahila Bank Business Loan, Mudra Yojana Scheme, Orient Mahila Vikas Yojana Scheme, Dena Shakti Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana, Udyogini Scheme, Cent Kalyani Scheme, and Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme.

Schemes related to women empowerment include Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme, One Stop Centre Scheme, Women Helpline Scheme, UJJAWALA, Working Women Hostel, SWADHAR Greh, Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP), Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK), and Mahila E-Haat.

The primary objective of the Dena Shakti Scheme is to offer cost-effective financial support to women entrepreneurs engaged in diverse sectors, including agriculture-based and MSME enterprises.

The Annapurna scheme aims to support women entrepreneurs in the food catering business. This scheme offers loans of up to Rs 50,000 with a three-year repayment duration, which can be used to purchase kitchen essentials such as gas connections and raw materials. The interest rate may vary depending on the market rate and the bank offering the loan. Both Bharatiya Mahila Bank and State Bank of Mysore are involved in providing these loans to women entrepreneurs.
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