Question : SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES FOR SINGLE WOMEN

(a) the definition of the `single women`as coined by the Government;

(b) whether the separated, abandoned,single mothers or older women who nevermarried do not qualify as single women;

(c) if so, the details thereof and thereasons there for along with the correctivesteps taken/likely to be taken by theGovernment in this regard;

(d) whether the Government hasreceived any charter of demands from theNational Forum for Single Women`s Rightsseeking better access to social securityschemes, health and education; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and theresponse of the Government thereto?

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

(a) to(c): There is no official definition of the `single women`. However, the definition of single women in common parlance for the Government schemes and programmes includes never married, widow, divorced, judicially separated, abandoned, single mothers.

(d) & (e): Ministry of Women and Child Development has not received any charter of demands from the National Forum for Single Women`s Rights. However, the Government implements several schemes/ programmes for the welfare and empowerment of women which can also be availed by single women, on meeting the specific requirements prescribed there under.