Government Unveils Comprehensive Initiatives for Holistic Development of Rural Women

By Khritish Swargiary

NEW DELHI (AP) - The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged approach to address the holistic development and empowerment of women across the country, with a special focus on those residing in rural areas. This was revealed by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani in response to a query in the Lok Sabha.

Highlighting the government's utmost priority towards the safety, security, and empowerment of women, Irani outlined a plethora of initiatives aimed at uplifting women on a life-cycle continuum basis, ensuring their educational, social, economic, and political empowerment to become equal partners in the nation's sustainable development.

Key Initiatives

• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM): Has connected nearly 10 crore women with around 90 lakh women's self-help groups.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Mandates that at least one-third of the jobs generated under the scheme should be given to women.
• Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) Scheme: Focuses on woman ownership of houses.
• National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): An online trading platform for agricultural commodities, helping women overcome barriers in accessing markets.
• National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC): Uplifting women cooperatives engaged in various activities.
• Education and Skill Development Initiatives: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), Samagra Shiksha, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna, and Skill India Mission.
• Healthcare Initiatives: Anganwadi Services under Mission Poshan 2.0, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).
• Initiatives to Reduce Drudgery and Care Burden: Swachh Bharat Mission, Ujjawala Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Sakasharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA).
• Political Representation: 73rd constitutional amendment reserving one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 reserving one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
• Mission Shakti: An Integrated Women Empowerment Programme with sub-schemes "Sambal" for safety and security, and "Samarthya" for empowerment, including the Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW).

With this comprehensive range of initiatives spanning education, healthcare, skill development, political representation, economic empowerment, and more, the Government of India aims to ensure the holistic development of rural women, enabling them to realize their full potential and contribute as equal partners in the nation's progress.

Sl. No.	States/UTs	Amount released 2022-23	Amount released 2023-24 (As on 31.01.2024)
1	Andhra Pradesh	2,12,49,000
2	Arunachal Pradesh		3,07,17,000
3	Assam	4,22,82,000	10,71,63,000
4	Bihar	3,05,01,000
5	Chhattisgarh	2,66,46,000
6	Delhi	96,84,000
7	Goa	0	30,37,500
8	Gujarat	2,66,46,000	3,52,62,000
9	Haryana	1,81,65,000
10	Himachal Pradesh	1,56,82,500	2,00,47,500
11	Jammu & Kashmir	0	2,49,34,500
12	Jharkhand	12,03,000	1,85,04,000
13	Karnataka	0	2,51,04,000
14	Kerala	1,19,97,000	1,53,09,000
15	Manipur	2,03,08,500
16	Meghalaya	1,56,82,500	2,88,56,250
17	Mizoram	1,45,26,000	1,39,32,000
18	Nagaland	0	4,51,08,000
19	Puducherry	12,03,000	30,84,000
20	Punjab	1,89,36,000
21	Rajasthan	2,66,46,000
22	Sikkim	0	87,43,500
23	Tamil Nadu	3,05,01,000
24	Telangana	2,66,46,000
25	Tripura	1,10,56,500
26	Uttar Pradesh	5,90,28,000
27	Uttarakhand	1,68,39,000
28	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	58,60,000	58,60,000
29	Chandigarh	32,90,000
30	Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu	58,60,000
31	Ladakh	45,75,000	45,75,000
32	Lakshadweep	32,90,000