Question : Nai Roshni Scheme

(a) the present status of the Nai Roshni Scheme being implemented in the country;

(b) the details of the funds sanctioned, released and allocated under this scheme during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether the Government has achieved the target set under this scheme;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of women trained and the details of the training and post-training support provided under this programme;

(e) whether the demand of this scheme/programme is increasing in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the action/steps taken by the Government to meet the increasing demand?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a) and (b) Ministry of Minority Affairs has been implementing an exclusive scheme “Nai Roshni” for Leadership Development of Minority Women with an aim to empower and instil confidence in women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and intermediaries at all levels since 2012-13 all over the country through selected Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The year-wise details of funds allocated and spentunder the scheme during last three years and current year are as under:
(Rs. in Crore)
Financial Year Budget Estimate (BE) Revised Estimate (RE) Expenditure
2013-14 15.00 14.74 11.95
2014-15 14.00 14.00 14.00
2015-16 15.00 15.00 15.00
2016-17 15.00 - 10.16
(As on 30.11.2016)

(c) and (d) Yes, Madam. The total target under the scheme during the 12thPlan Period (2012-13 to 2016-17) was to train 2.00 lakh women. The Ministry has already trained about2.27 lakh women till the end of previous financial year i.e. 2015-16. During current financial year, which is the last year of the Plan Period, the Ministry has already approved the training of 0.69 lakh women.The scheme provides one week training programme followed by handholding for a period of one year. The training is provided on various training modules covering issues relating to women viz. Leadership of Women through participation in decision making, Educational Programmes for women, Health and Hygiene, Legal rights of women, Financial Literacy, Digital Literacy, Swachch Bharat, Life Skills and Advocacy for Social and Behavioural change. Nurturing and hand holding is a post-training service rendered by the implementing organization. They form Mahila Mandals/ Mahila Sabhas/ Self Help Groups, etc. from amongst the trainees. The expert facilitators of organization visit the village/locality to assist the trained women at least once a month during the project period and hold meetings with them, discuss the issues and resolve them.

(e) and (f) The over achievement of the targets is the reflection of heavy demand of the scheme. Moreover, in the entire 12th Plan Period, the number of women covered is less than 1% of the total minority women population in the country. Therefore, the Ministry has already projected higher budget allocation for 2017-18 under the scheme.

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