Question : Swadhar Greh Scheme

(a) the salient features of the Swadhar Greh Scheme implemented by the Government for women in difficult circumstances indicating the criteria/norms fixed for opening Swadhar Greh and granting/extending financial assistance along with eligible organisations thereunder;

(b) the number of proposals received and approved under the scheme for construction of Swadhar Greh in the country along with financial allocation made and utilised thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise;

(c) the challenges being faced by the Government to overcome the difficulties in the implementation of the scheme;

(d) whether the number of Swadhar Greh sanctioned so far are sufficient to meet the growing needs of destitute women in the country and if not, the further plan of the Government to give a boost to the scheme; and

(e) whether the Government has taken any efforts to compile an Aadhaar enabled data base on the beneficiaries under various schemes of the Ministry and if so, the details thereof along with the number of beneficiaries covered for getting financial/logistic benefits thereunder, State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) : The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the women victims of difficult circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security for these women. The State Governments/UT Administration invite applications from eligible organizations and the proposals which fulfill the norms are placed before a Project Sanctioning Committee (PSC) chaired by Secretary(WCD) of the State/UT concerned and comprising representatives from the Finance and Labour Department of the State/UT in addition to any other representative as the State Government/UT administration may decide. The State Governments/UT Administrations assess the number of new projects required in the State/UT and communicate to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, along with the justification by 30th September of every year. Subject to availability of resources, the central Government communicates number of projects those can be approved and make necessary provision in the budget of subsequent financial year. As per guidelines of the Swadhar Greh Scheme, to seek financial assistance, the agency should be either recognized by State/UT under existing law or should be well known with the experience or working in the field for at least 3 years and its work should be reported satisfactory by the State Govt./UT Administration concerned. It should ordinarily have been engaged in the field of women’s welfare/social welfare for a minimum period of two years, Its financial position should be sound, It should have facilities, resources, experience and personnel to undertake the management of such project, it should run Swadhar Greh on a no-profit basis and it should have facilities like computers, internet connection etc at Swadhar Greh.

(b) : No proposal has been received under the scheme for construction of Swadhar Greh in the country.

(c) : Under Swadhar Greh Scheme, the funds are released to the State Governments/UTs for further disbursement to the Implementing Agencies w.e.f. 01.04.2016. Due to non receipt of Utilization Certificate/Statement of Expenditure and Physical Progress Report in time, the subsequent installments are not released to the State Governments/UT Administrations.

(d) : Yes, Madam.

(e) : Yes, Madam. Swadhar Greh is a DBT compliant scheme. Gazette Notification has been issued and the same has been forwarded to the State Governments/UT Administrations with the request to furnish the data of beneficiaries. Presently, 405 beneficiaries have been covered for getting financial/logistic benefits under the Scheme.

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