(a) whether any steps have been taken by the Government for empowerment of women in the rural areas of the country in the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether there is any proposal to involve NGOs and other private organizations working in this direction and to provide them encouragement and support from the Government in this regard: and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVLOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (c): Yes Sir. Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme under Ministry of Women and Child Development was approved in November 2017 as a centrally sponsored scheme, to empower rural women through community participation. The scheme envisages community engagement through college student volunteers in 115 aspirational districts as part of block level initiatives; capacity building of women collectives in not more than 50% of the blocks in the aspirational districts; District Level Centre for Women (DLCW) in 640 districts to facilitate women centric schemes and to provide foothold for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme; State Resource Centre for Women to support the respective State Government/UT Administration in implementation of women centric schemes/programs including BBBP Scheme.
(d) & (e): Under the Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme Capacity Building of Women Collectives is envisaged in not more than 50% of the MSK blocks in 115 aspirational districts to address the livelihood needs of the women particularly those in remote/vulnerable areas where women are not in a position to move out from their immediate surroundings for formal skill training. This component is to be implemented in collaboration of NGO’s/ Cooperative Societies/ Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
********