Question : EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN

(a)the details of various steps/ measures taken by the Government for upliftment and empowerment of rural women in the country during the Tenth Plan Period alongwith fund allocation, if any?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SURYAKANTA PATIL)

(a)The Ministry of Rural Development implements a number of rural development and poverty alleviation programmes in the rural areas of the country. While framing the guidelines of various programmes of the Ministry, special components for women have been provided in order to ensure their socio-economic development. The Ministry is implementing a wage employment programme of Sampurna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) under which it has been stipulated that 30% of employment opportunities should be reserved for women. The Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is a self- employment programme to organize the rural poor into self-help groups to enable them to set up sustainable self-employment. Under this programme, the 50% of the groups formed in each block are to be exclusively for women which will account for at least 40% of the total Swarozgar. Under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), assistance is provided for construction of houses for Below Poverty Line people in the rural areas. Under the guidelines of this programme, it has been stipulated that houses are to be allotted in the name of women members of the household, or alternatively, in the joint names of husband and wife. Similarly under Rural Sanitation Programme, it has been provided that 10% of the allocated funds can be utilized for construction and maintenance of public latrines for women and under Rural Water Supply also due representation in village level committees is given to the rural women.