The Indian government has launched a number of schemes for women over the past few years to ensure their economic security and expose them to more opportunities in education, work, and more.
The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Irani stated at the United Nations on the 25th anniversary of the fourth world conference on women that India recognises the importance of gender equality and women's empowerment in all sectors of the development agenda. Hence, the government has established multiple schemes for women to increase awareness and provide assistance to them.
Let’s look at different schemes for women launched by the Indian government to support women's empowerment.
This initiative was launched in Haryana on 22nd January 2015 by the Prime Minister of India to guarantee the survival, safety, and education of girls. The initiative intends to tackle the issue of the unequal sex ratio in recent years, raise social awareness, and improve the effectiveness of welfare benefits for girls.
This scheme was initially launched by the government of India in 1972-73 with the primary purpose of providing secure housing and environments for working women as well as giving daycare amenities for their children, if any. The government offers grant-in-aid through this women's empowerment project to construct new hostel buildings and enlarge an existing structure in rented space.
The One-Stop Center scheme is one of the schemes for women that provides essential medical assistance. Introduced in 2015, it is a government-sponsored scheme for women that receives funding from the Nirbhaya fund. Under this initiative, state governments get complete federal funding to protect women who are victims of gender-based violence in both public and private settings, such as acid assaults, rape, and sexual harassment. This program provides medical assistance, legal help, and counselling services under one roof to address all types of violence against women.
Launched in April 2015, the Women Helpline scheme aims to provide women who have experienced abuse in either public or private settings with 24*7 emergency assistance.
The government introduced a toll-free number (181) for providing quick and emergency assistance. Women can use this helpline number in every state and union territory across the country. This initiative also raises awareness about women's empowerment and safety.
The Mahila Police Volunteers scheme was introduced in 2016 by the Ministries of Women and Child Development and Home Affairs in all states and UTs. In order to ensure police outreach on crime cases, this central government-sponsored program strives to establish a connection between police authority and local communities.
As part of this strategy, an MPV (Mahila Police Volunteers Scheme) will act as a public-police liaison to combat crimes against women such as dowry harassment, child marriage, domestic abuse, and domestic violence. This plan also encourages women to join the police force by fostering a secure atmosphere.
It is one of the Indian government schemes for women's empowerment introduced in 2018. This project's primary goals are to ensure social, economic, and health security as well as to offer housing, food, and clothes. This program gives women legal support and empowers them to take the initiative to reintegrate into society.
From 1986–1987, the Ministry of Women and Child Development operated the STEP scheme as a "Central Sector Scheme." In December 2014, it underwent revision. It was designed to give women work security and training in skill development. This government-sponsored initiative provides institutions and organisations with funding so they may run training programs for women.
Mahila Shakti Kendra, an initiative for women's empowerment started in India in 2017, is one of the well-known schemes for women. It intends to offer women convergent support services at one location so they can grow their talents, find work, and improve their digital literacy. This program is active on a number of levels, including the federal, state, and local levels.
By constructing 920 Mahila Shakti Kendras, the government hopes to reach the 115 districts with the highest poverty levels. This program aims to give women access to resources, including quality healthcare, education, work opportunities, and counselling.
The Indian government has established the National Creche scheme for children of working mothers to provide several amenities. It was introduced in 2006. This initiative offers working mothers with childcare services and promises to enhance their health and nutrition status. Furthermore, this women empowerment yojana supports children's physical, social, and holistic development as well as increases awareness about child’s health by educating parents on how to improve childcare procedures or practices.
This program was introduced in December 2007. It is an extensive scheme established by the Indian government to suppress trafficking and retrieve, treat, and reintegrate sexually exploited survivors of human trafficking. The scheme is being implemented mostly through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in order to give direct relief and benefit to victims of human trafficking.
Over the decades, the Indian government has bought in various schemes for women to ensure their safety and well-being. While women have many glass ceilings to break, these schemes assist them to become more empowered, independent, and safe.
The Indian government has several schemes for women, such as the Working Women Hostel scheme, Women Helpline scheme, One-Stop scheme, and so on, which provide medical or financial assistance to working women and increase women's empowerment.
Several government schemes for women, including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mahila E-Haat, UJJAWAL, and many other initiatives, are launched to focus on women empowerment.
Following are the five types of women empowerment:
The women empowerment scheme in India was launched on 22nd January 2015.
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