Question : National Forum for Single Women Rights

(a) the total number of single women in the country as per the 2011 census along with the schemes implemented and steps taken by the Government for empowerment of single women in vulnerable circumstances during the last three years, State/UT-wise along with Bundelkhand region;
(b) whether the National Forum for Single Women’s Rights (NFSWR) has raised issues concerning single women, widows of all ages as well as unmarried, divorced, separated and abandoned women, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the NFSWR has urged the Union as well as State Governments to ensure a monthly pension of Rs.3,000 for all single women whose incomes are below the taxation limit, if so, the response of the Union Government thereon;
(d) the steps taken by the Union Government to enhance the pensionary benefits to single women; and
(e) the details of funds allocated and utilised for increasing the number of women’s hostels along with the steps taken to improve the facilities already available?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a): Registrar General of India collects the Census Data on the basis of all persons living in the country at the time of Census taking, which also includes data on single women. As per the census, the number of single women population in 2011 was 59,36,636. The Ministry is implementing various schemes/programmes such as One Stop Centre, Women Helpline, Swadhar Greh, Working Women Hostels, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), Mahila Shakti Kendra for the welfare and empowerment of women across the country which can also be availed by single women, on meeting the specific requirements prescribed thereunder.

(b) to (d): National Forum for Single Women’s Rights (NFSWR) has raised issues concerning single women, widows of all ages as well as unmarried, divorced, separated and abandoned women including monthly pension of Rs.3000/- per month for low income single women, in its Annual Advisory meeting. Ministry of Rural Development has set up a National Social Advisory Committee for taking informed decision for revamping the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) scheme by way of changes in admissible rates and the criteria.

(e): The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing Working Women Hostels scheme for ensuring safe accommodation for women working away from their place of residence. To provide safety for working women, a provision has been made to keep security guard and to install CCTV Cameras in Working Women Hostels. To provide quality of stay for working women, provision has been made in the Scheme guidelines to provide safe and affordable accommodation with clean and well-ventilated day care centre for the children of inmates, medical first-aid and providing washing machines and geysers/solar water heating system. The funds allocated and released during last three year are as under:

Year Budget Allocation
(In crores) Fund Released
(In crores)
2015-16 28.00 12.19
2016-17 28.00 23.13
2017-18 50.00 26.96
2018-19 52.00 20.14
( As on 26.12.2018)










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