Additional Important Points on Women Empowerment Schemes in India
Legal and Institutional Support
Programme/Mechanism | Purpose |
National Commission for Women (NCW) | A statutory body established in 1992 to safeguard the rights and interests of women. |
Nirbhaya Fund | Corpus fund by the Government of India to support initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women. |
Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) | Set up for speedy trial of sexual assault and POCSO cases. |
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 (POSH Act) | Legal framework to address workplace harassment. |
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 | Increased paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. |
Financial Inclusion & Insurance for Women
Scheme | Purpose |
Jan Dhan Yojana | Bank accounts for financial inclusion – women form a large percentage of beneficiaries. |
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) | Life insurance scheme; many women enrolled through SHGs. |
Atal Pension Yojana | Pension scheme aimed at informal sector, especially targeting women workers. |
Women SHG-Bank Linkage Programme (under NABARD) | Credit linkage and financial services support to Self Help Groups. |
National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd. (NCGTC) | Provides guarantee to loans availed by women entrepreneurs. |
Women in Governance and Decision Making
Initiative | Details |
Reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions | 33% reservation for women in local self-government bodies (many states have raised it to 50%). |
Training under RGPSA (Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan) | Capacity building of elected women representatives. |
Mahila Samakhya Programme (now merged) | Literacy and empowerment of rural women through collective action and leadership building. |
Women in Science, Technology and Innovation
Scheme | Objective |
WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) – DST | Promote career opportunities for women scientists and technologists. |
KIRAN Scheme (DST) | Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing – for promoting women in research careers. |
Vigyan Jyoti | Encourage girl students from class 9 to 12 to pursue careers in STEM. |
International Collaborations and Goals
Policy/Goal | Objective |
SDG 5 (UN Sustainable Development Goal) | Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. |
CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women) | India ratified it in 1993 – commits to ending discrimination. |
HeForShe Campaign (UN Women) | Encourages male involvement in promoting gender equality. |
State-Level Schemes for Women Empowerment
State | Scheme | Objective |
Tamil Nadu | Amma Two-Wheeler Scheme | Subsidy on scooters for working women. |
West Bengal | Kanyashree Prakalpa | Financial support to girl students to reduce dropouts and early marriage. |
Madhya Pradesh | Ladli Laxmi Yojana | Financial incentives for girl child education and health. |
Haryana | Laadli Scheme | Promotion of girl child birth registration and education. |
Odisha | Mission Shakti | Empowerment of women through SHGs and livelihood activities. |
Awards and Recognition
Award | Given For |
Nari Shakti Puraskar | National award by Ministry of Women and Child Development for exceptional contribution to women empowerment. |
Stree Shakti Puraskar | Recognizes women achievers in various fields including education, agriculture, science, etc. |
