Question : Schemes for Women and Children

(a) the salient features of the schemes/ programmes implemented by the Government for the empowerment/ development of destitute/poor women and children in the country, including border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and to provide them security, education and employment opportunities;
(b) the funds allocated and released to the States/UTs under the said schemes/programmes along with its reported utilization and the number of beneficiaries therefrom during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise and scheme-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide any special package to States/UTs for their development in tribal areas and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any proposal has been received to open Block Development Office and anganwadi centres at newly constituted panchayats for effective implementation and monitoring of said schemes and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the other measures taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)
(a) The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing various schemes/programmes for the empowerment/ development of women including destitute/poor women and children for States/UTs in the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, the salient features of which are as under:

i. Anganwadi Services Scheme: This scheme is implemented through Anganwadi Centres for all eligible beneficiaries which provides a package of six services such as : a) supplementary nutrition, b) pre-school non-formal education, c) nutrition & health education, d) immunization, e) health check-up and f) referral services.

ii. POSHAN Abhiyaan: POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children, pregnant women and lactating mothers and reduce anemia among children and women. It creates synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue alerts for timely action, guide and supervise the line Ministries and the States/ UTs to achieve the targeted goals. A total of 9 Districts are covered under State of Jammu & Kashmir (1 district covered in FY 2017-18 and 8 district covered in FY 2018-19).

iii. Beta Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): The scheme was launched to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women empowerment and aims to change mindsets to value girl child. It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.

iv. Scheme for Adolescent Girls: The scheme aims at improving the nutrition and health status of out of school adolescent girls of age 11-14 years and to motivate them to join school system or skill training.

v. Swadhar Greh: Scheme 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.

vi. Ujjawala: Scheme has been implemente for eradicating the menace of trafficking in the country. The scheme has been conceived primarily for the purpose of preventing trafficking on the one hand and rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims on the other.

vii. Mahila Shakti Kendra: The scheme aims to empower rural women through community participation. Community engagement through College Student Volunteers is envisioned in 115 aspirational districts as part of the Block Level initiatives.

viii. One Stop Centre Scheme (OSC): OSCs aims to facilitate a range of integrated services for women affected by violence under one roof, such as registering FIRs, providing legal aid and legal counselling, medical aid, psycho-social counselling, temporary shelter etc.

ix. Universalisation of Women Helpline (WHL): The Women Helpline, a country-wide toll-free number 181, provides 24 hours emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence. The 181 helpline provides support to women by linking them with appropriate authorities such as police, One Stop Centre, hospital etc. It also provides information about women related government schemes and programs.

x. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): The maternity benefit, are available to a woman for the first living child of family. All the pregnant women and lactating mothers in regular employment with Central Government or State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force, are excluded.


(b) The State/UT-wise details of funds released, utilized and beneficiaries covered under these schemes/programmes are given at Annexure-I to X.

(c) No such proposals are envisaged.

(d) Proposals for opening of new Anganwadi Centres are received from the States/UTs. However, they have been empowered to relocate existing Anganwadi Centres as per their requirements subject to fulfilling prescribed conditions.

(e) POSHAN Abhiyaan provides for real time IT based monitoring of beneficiaries and service delivery. Also online monitoring of activities for scheme Mahila Shakti Kendra is envisaged through web-based portal.

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