Name of the Scheme – Mission Shakti (Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women)
Department – Social Welfare
Scheme for : Individual and Institutions
Where to Apply : Block Level Office ,District headquarter office , Directorate office
When to Apply : Any time of the year
INTRODUCTION
The Constitution of India has granted equal rights to women and men in terms of freedom and opportunity. To enable a woman to be the author of her destiny and that of the Nation, a life cycle continuum approach has to be adopted that creates an ecosystem that addresses inherent biases and role-plays, protects and upholds the rights and dignity of women and equips them with necessary skill sets and instil confidence in them to forge their way ahead. To take the momentum gained so far forward to realize the vision of women welfare and gender equity, a comprehensive policy is required that addresses not only the gaps between policy advancements and the actual delivery of services at the community level but also removes the disparate development pattern in case of extremely marginalised and socially excluded women. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative to address existing challenges while taking care of emerging issues as the nation progresses.
The Central Government has enacted several legislations and implements various schemes for safety, security and improving the status of women including their economic empowerment. However, despite various affirmative steps, various parameters indicate that a lot still needs to be done for improving the status of women in society.
Thus, the need of the hour is to have a concerted effort in a mission mode to ensure gender equality and women‟s empowerment – giving rise to Mission Shakti. Mission Shakti aims at strengthening interventions that not only improve women safety and empowerment, but also tackle pervasive gender biases and discriminations. Inspired by the Constitutional commitment to Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy (particularly the Right to Equality and Right against Exploitation), India’s commitment to international treaties and conventions as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it seeks to make women economically empowered, exercising free choice over their minds and bodies in an atmosphere free from violence and threat. It also seeks to reduce the care burden on women and increase female labour force participation by promoting skill development, capacity building, financial literacy, access to micro-credit etc.
Mission Shakti has two sub-schemes –‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’. In the „Sambal‟ sub- scheme, which is for safety and security of women, the existing scheme of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), BetiBachaoBetiPadhao (BBBP) have been included with modifications and a new component of Nari Adalat – women collective has been added.
In the „Samarthya’ sub scheme, which is for empowerment of women, existing schemes of Ujjwala, SwadharGreh and Working Women Hostel have been included with modifications. In addition, the existing schemes of National Creche Scheme and PMMVY under umbrella ICDS have now been included in Samarthya.
OBJECTIVE OF MISSION SHAKTI
The objective of the Mission Shakti is to provide to all women and girls including differently-abled, socially and economically marginalized and vulnerable groups, in need of care and protection, with short term and long-term services and information for their holistic development and empowerment.
The components under Mission Shakti have the broad objectives of either protecting or assisting women who are victims of violence or in difficult circumstances or for empowering women. The objectives of the Mission are as under:
- Provide immediate and comprehensive continuum of care, support and assistance to women affected by violence and for those in distress
- To put in place quality mechanisms for rescue, protection and rehabilitation of women in need of assistance and victims of crime and violence;
- To improve accessibility to various government services available for women at various levels;
- Making people aware about Government schemes and programmes as well as legal provisions to fight social evils like dowry, domestic violence, Sexual Harassment at Workplace and to promote gender equality etc
- Capacity building and training of functionaries/ duty bearers under various schemes/Legislations;
- Collaboration with partner Ministries/ Departments/ States/ UTs for convergence of policies, programmes/ schemes and to create an enabling environment for public private partnership for safety and empowerment of women across sectors.
- Create awareness among masses for inducing positive behavioral change towards women and girls.
- To prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination; to ensure survival, protection,education and development of the girl child.
COMPONENTS OF MISSION SHAKTI
- ‘SAMBAL’– FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY OF WOMEN
The objective of the sub-scheme is to improve accessibility and integrate all efforts and various government initiatives towards the safety and protection of women, as well as for securing their rights and entitlements on a comprehensive continuum of care and support to women affected by violence and in distress and to assist them in re-emerging as integrated partners in nation-building. In ‘Sambal’, existing schemes of One Stop Centres (OSC), Universalisation of Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) have been included and a new component of Nari Adalat has been added.
One Stop Centre
The One Stop Centre will be the mainstay of the Sambal sub-scheme as well as of all activities at District level. The scheme of OSC is being implemented since 1st April, 2015 to
provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence and in distress, both in private and public spaces under one roof and facilitate immediate, emergency and non- emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, temporary shelter, police assistance, psychological and counselling support to fight against any forms of violence against women. Presently, OSCs are being set up in each district of the country. Based on the encouraging results of this initiative and benefits to women, 300 more OSCs will be opened in the districts having higher rate of crime against women or having bigger geographical area, preferably in aspirational districts.
OSCs will be scaled up and strengthened to provide forward linkages to the institutionalized / empanelled psycho-social/ legal counsellors for assisting women facing mental harassment or any other form of distress. In addition, it will also connect women to the schemes / initiatives of the government (economic and social) on a need basis through the State/ District level hubsfor their development and empowerment. Further, the OSCs will maintain the list of all Statutory Authorities under various legislations of the Ministry at State/ District Level and connect them on a need basis. It will also act as a link for Shakti Sadan for providing legal aid and psycho-social counselling to residents of the home through a common pool of professionals.
The One Stop Centers shall be the main stay of the Ministry at District level for coordination and convergence with other initiatives under Nirbhaya Fund such as Women Helplines, Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), Women Help Desks (WHDs), and Special Fast Track Courts (FTSCs), District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) etc.
The needy women including those affected by violence along with their children (girls of all ages and boys upto12 years of age) can avail temporary shelter at the OSC for a maximum period of 5 days. The admissibility of any woman to the temporary shelter would be at the discretion of the Centre Administrator. For long-term shelter requirements, arrangements will be made by OSCs in coordination with Shakti Sadan.In case girls below the age of 18 years are referred to the Centre, they will also be provided services in coordination with authorities/institutions established under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012.
A lump sum amount for hiring of a dedicated transport facility will be provided to all OSCs under the recurring grant for reaching out to the women in distress who need immediate assistance. The vehicles so hired shall carry standardized branding / logo of the helpline numbers and initiatives of the Government for public awareness and visibility.
Women Helpline
The Women Helpline provides toll-free 24-hours telecom service to women seeking support and information by connecting them with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) for all emergency services like police/ fire/ Ambulance services and with One Stop Centres. The WHL will also provide information about government scheme/ programmes, facilities and will also connect women with the statutory officers under various legislations like Dowry Prohibition Officers, Child Marriage Prevention Officers, and Protection Officers etc. as per requirement within the local area in which she resides or is employed. It will function at one place in a State/ UT, to be decided by State/UT. Women helpline will be accessible through a single universal toll-free number across the country.
181 Women Helplines would be integrated with ERSS for all emergency assistance and with OSCs and other platforms like 1098 Child line, NALSA Helpline etc. for all emergency and non- emergency response for providing forward linkages in connection with rights and entitlements of women. This integration will ensure seamless transfer of cases of women from 112 to 181 and viceversa. Further, for guidance, linkage and handholding of women for connecting with various institutional and schematic set ups for their Psycho-social counselling, legal aid, empowerment and development (including through skilling, education, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, etc.) would be through 181. In future, the endeavour would be to have a single number 112 for emergency response and 181 for taking care of all non-emergency and information dissemination services to women, girls and children.
A woman in distress or in difficult circumstances or somebody on her behalf may call this toll-free number. Based on the urgency and the requirements explained by the woman, the responder will refer her to ERSS for emergency services and to OSCs of the concerned area/
districts for non-emergency services. In case women need information about the laws and existing schemes of government then the WHL will provide the information available with them or connect them to the nearest One Stop Centre that will provide information to the women through specialists/ counsellors or to any other expert/agency based on the details maintained by them.
The helpline can also be accessed through text or other forms of messages in respect of those who are unable to speak/communicate due to any situational or physical challenges and will be sensitive to the needs of persons who are hearing and speech impaired or people with disabilities. It will have provisions to locate/ trace the number from which a call has been received. In case a woman has been interrupted during her call or was unable to specify her problem or her address due to some reasons then the same would be traced and the helpline will facilitate an emergency response through the nearest One Stop Centre/ ERSS.
A Standard Operating Procedure (SoP)would be prepared for the helpline, including roles and responsibilities, do‟s and don‟ts. This will include information about procedures to be followed, forms to be filled, monitoring mechanisms and documentation. There will be protocols for operationalisation of effective functioning of the Helpline, delivery of services, and best practices. These documents will be handed over to all helpline centres working at state level.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
The BBBP scheme was launched on 22nd January, 2015 as a tri-ministerial effort of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Now, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Minority Affairs have also been added as partners with a view to undertake special drive and awareness programme for promoting higher education and skill development among girls. To increase girl‟s participation in the fields of sports, appropriate programme would be developed to identify sporting talent among girls and link them with appropriate authorities under „Khelo India‟ or any other schemes/ programme of Central/ State Governments for enhancing their skills. The component of BBBP will cover all the districts of the country through multi-sectoral interventions, and it was operational in 405 districts earlier. The component will aim for zero-budget advertising and encouraging greater spend on activities that have on ground impact, e.g.,for promoting sports among girls, self-defence camps, construction of girls toilets, making available sanitary napkin vending machines and sanitary pads especially in educational institutions, awareness about PC-PNDT Act etc.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao will focus on the following groups
| Primary | Young and newly married couples and expecting parents, Adolescents (girls and boys) and youth, Households and communities |
| Secondary | Schools and AWCs, Medical doctors/ practitioners, private hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres etc. Officials, PRIs/ULBs, frontline workers, Women Collectives and SHGs, civil society organizations, media, industry, religious leaders etc. |
BBBP scheme aims to achieve the following:
- Improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by 2 points every year
- Improvement in the percentage of institutional deliveries or sustained at the rate of 95% or above,
- 1% increase in 1st Trimester ANC Registration per year, and
- 1% increase in enrolment at secondary education level and skilling of girls/women per year
- To check dropout rate among girls at secondary and higher secondary levels.
- Raising awareness about safe menstrual hygiene management (MHM).
Nari Adalat
Nari Adalat a new component for providing women with an alternate Grievance Redressal Mechanism for resolving cases of petty nature (harassment, subversion, curtailment of rights or entitlements) faced by women at Gram Panachayat level will be implemented in a phased manner. Nari Adalats or women collectives will be formed of committed and socially respected women chosen for that purpose. This platform will also be utilized for engaging with the public for awareness generation and getting feedback for improvement in the schemes and for effective public delivery of services. These will be provided logistic support through Gram Panchayats in convergence with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Rural Development, and Common Service Centres (CSCs) run by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Initially, it will be launched in identified States/UTs, preferably where Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) are heading the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Aspirational Districts. In the first year, an awareness drive regarding legal, constitutional rights and entitlements under
various schemes/ programs will be undertaken. In the second year, committed and socially respected women will be identified and extensively trained in all women-related laws and schemesand a formal setup of women collectives having 7 to 11 members will be made who will address the socio, economic, and cultural issues faced by the women of that area and will provide alternative resolution to disputes by mediation and by connecting them to the duty bearers.
Under this component, no remuneration to the selected members shall be provided. However, out-of-pocket expenses will be provided by the Ministry for organising the meetings and for providing the badge/ uniform to the members.
2. SAMARTHYA’– FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
In „Samarthya’ which is for empowerment of women, existing schemes of Ujjwala, SwadharGreh and Working Women Hostel and the existing ICDS schemes of National Creche Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) have now been included under this umbrella scheme as these primarily focuses on women‟s economic empowerment.
In addition, where required, funding support for Economic Empowerment of women will also be provided on need basis, subject to the condition that funding support from other sources for the proposed activity is not available.
The objective of the scheme is to improve accessibility to various government services available for women at various levels through reinforcement and convergence for development and empowerment of women. The scheme aims towards social, cultural, political and economic development and empowerment of women.
Shakti Sadan
The Ministry of Women and Child Development was implementing the schemes of SwadharGreh for Women in difficult circumstances and Ujjawala for Prevention of Trafficking. Both the schemes were aimed at creating a safe and enabling environment for the women in distress including trafficked women and thereby give them the strength to overcome their difficult circumstances and make a fresh start. For administrative purposes, Swadhar and Ujjawala Scheme have been merged and these will be known as ‘Shakti Sadan’ – Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home. However, States/ UTs will have the option of running the facility for various categories of women either in a single building or separate buildings within same premises. Further, the States / UTs may set up homes for mentally challenged / DIVYANG women in convergence with the schemes of Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability.
The residents of Shakti Sadan will be provided with shelter, food, clothing, primary health facilities and other essential daily need items. Residents will be facilitated for opening Bank Accounts in their names in which an amount of Rs. 500 per month per resident shall be deposited, which cannot be withdrawn by the account holders during their stay in the home. However, if the resident is willing to avail the benefits for PM Jeewan Jyoti Bima Yojana and/ or PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, payment of premium can be made out of the aforementioned amount.
The amount deposited along with accrued interest can be utilised as seed money by the beneficiary for beginning her life/ career afresh after she leaves the home. Vocational training and social security benefits (including medical benefit under Ayushman Bharat Yojana or similar schemes, Disability Pension) etc. shall be arranged for the residents of homes in convergence with the relevant departments. Their special needs, if any, will also be taken care of. For other services like psycho-social counselling, legal aid, there shall be a common pool of persons under overall charge of OSC.
The facilities at these centres could also be availed by the children accompanying women in the above categories. Unmarried girls of any age and boys up to the age of 12 years would be allowed to stay in Shakti Sadans with their mothers. (Boys of more than 12 years of age will be shifted to the Children Homes run under JJ Act/Integrated Child Protection Scheme or ICPS). Women affected by domestic violence, who need care and protection for a short term, would be serviced by One Stop Centres first. If required, she could stay there up to five days. However, for long term stay requirement such women and the victims of trafficking or distressed or destitute women, will be referred to Shakti Sadan where they can stay upto a maximum period of 3 years. Extension for stay in Shakti Sada beyond 3 years can be granted on need basis by the concerned District Magistrate. However, the older women above the 55 years of age can be accommodated for maximum period of 5 years after which they will have to be shifted to old age homes or other similar institutions.
Following services would be provided to all women in distress including trafficked women and children:
i. Basic necessities such as food, clothing and other items of personal use as detailed in
Annexure I.
ii. Legal Service: The legal assistance requirements of the beneficiaries shall be met through the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). In case, such assistance is not available from DLSA, the implementing organization will arrange alternative suitable legal assistance to claim their right to property, marital rights, divorce, maintenance and custody of children etc.
iii. Medical Facilities: First aid facilities shall be available within the Centres. However, Health Check-up and medical facilities will be provided through the district hospital/health and wellness centre/ CHC/PHC. Further, implementing organizations should engage a part time doctor for the Centre who should visit the Centre at least once in a week to ensure general health check-up of the residents and also to attend to any emergency situation. Expenditure towards purchase of medicines prescribed by the doctor will be met through management cost.
iv. Counselling: The common pool of counsellors proposed under the umbrella scheme under overall charge of OSC will provide psycho-social counselling to the women.
v. Education: As a large proportion of the rescued victims may be children and/ or illiterate or less educated women, they would need to be inducted in to the formal or
open school system, for which some expenditure on text-books, notebooks, stationary, school uniform and other incidental expenses may have to be incurred. Arrangements should be made for e-learning and Open Schools by the concerned department. Any requirement for gadgets / equipment like computers, TV sets, internet connection for the purpose shall be provided as per the norms.
vi. Vocational Training: Arrangement would be made by the implementing organization for providing vocational training/ skill development classes to the women through the Vocational Training Institutes recognized by the Directorate General of Employment and Training under the Ministry of Labour and Employment/ Training Partners of National Skill Development Council (NSDC). Training and examination fee, if not provided under any other scheme/ programmes of the Central/ State Government, would be reimbursed on submission of the certificate issued by the vocational training institute on successful completion of training. The expenditure incurred by the organization on the transportation of residents in course of vocational training etc., if not funded through other sources, will be met from the contingencies head. Micro Credit will be facilitated through SIDBI, Mudra and other relevant schemes of Central/State government in case residents want to start small-scale industry/ business.
Anti Human Trafficking Units
The Reintegration and Repatriation of the victims of trafficking and of commercial sexual exploitation will be facilitated through the Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) set up in the districts. However, the Shakti Sadan will provide the following services to facilitate reintegration and repatriation:
i. Setting up of Half-Way Home – Half-Way Home is a Home within the community, where a group of victims, ready for reintegration, live and work out of this place. This is to facilitate a smooth transition from life in the Rehabilitation Centre to independent living in the community. A Half-Way Home is for a group of victims who are gainfully employed and can live semi-independently with minimum supervision. This is a phased approach to re-integration into the community.
ii. Restoration to Families – The scheme will cover travel of the victim and one person assisting the victim from the destination area to her home town/village, expenses incurred towards her food during her travel and incidental expenses.
iii. Facilitate cross border repatriation procedures – The scheme would provide for expenses incurred in fulfilling various formalities for obtaining a repatriation order for the victim.
iv. Repatriation to country of origin – The scheme would cover travel of the cross- border victim and an escort from the destination area to her country of origin or border, expenses incurred towards her food during her travel and incidental expenses.
Home for Widows
The home for widows has been fully funded by Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development to accommodate 1000 widows to provide the widows a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counselling services has been established. The scheme HOME FOR WIDOWS (Central Sector Component of Umbrella Scheme for protection and Empowerment for Women) was approved in the Standing Finance Committee meeting held on 29.05.2018. The design of the Home is also old age friendly. The Home consists of ground plus three floors with the facilities of ramp, lifts, supply of adequate electricity, water and other amenities for meeting requirements of senior citizens and persons with special challenges. This Home is the largest shelter home for widows in the country and was inaugurated on 31.08.2018.Any pending liabilities under the scheme shall be met out of budget allocation under the Shakti Sadan component of Samarthya sub-scheme.
Component for Working Women
With the progressive change in the socio-economic fabric of the country, more and more women are leaving their homes in search of employment in big cities as well as urban and rural industrial clusters. One of the main difficulties faced by such women is lack of safe and conveniently located accommodation. The Government of India being concerned about the difficulties faced by such working women, introduced a scheme in 1972-73 of grant-in-aid for construction of new/ expansion of existing buildings for providing hostel facilities to working women in cities, smaller towns and also in rural areas where employment opportunities for women exist. The scheme was revised in 2017. However, based onthe evaluation studies, the existing scheme has been revised to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women and other women pursuing higher education or training, who need to live away from their families due to professional commitments.
While other schemes promote skill development and employment generation among women, none of these provides women with support services like safe accommodation with food and medical assistance. The Sakhi Niwas– Working Women Hostel component of the sub-scheme will fill this critical gap. This is also necessary in view of increased demand for Working Women Hostels (WWHs) due to changing preferences leading to more women entering employment/workforce and migrating to employment hubs.
Further, the scheme aligns well with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5) that mandates adopting and strengthening sound programs for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls at all levels. The scheme also addresses women‟s right to work and to free choice of profession and employment as mandated under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Another objective of the Sakhi Niwas component under the sub-scheme is to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women, with day care facilities for women living in hostels. The Day care/ Palna facility will also be open for the children of other working women living in the vicinity, subject to availability of slots, wherever possible. The working women‟s hostel projects under this scheme shall be made available to all working women without any distinction with respect to caste, religion, marital status etc., subject to norms prescribed under the scheme.
The facility of Shakhi Niwas can be availed by any working women, who may be single, widowed, divorced, separated or married (whose immediate family does not reside in the same city/area). Preference will be given to women from disadvantaged sections of the society. Special preference would be given to beneficiaries with physical disabilities, in case there is shortage of accommodation. Women who are under training for a job will also be considered for accommodation subject to availability and provided that the total training period does not exceed one year. The number of women under training for jobs should not exceed 30% of the total capacity. Girls up to the age of 18 years and boys up to the age of 12 years, accompanying working mothers will be provided accommodation with their mothers. Working mothers may also avail of the services of the Day Care Centre, as provided under the scheme.
The gross income of the beneficiaries should not exceed Rs. 50,000/- consolidated (gross) per month in metropolitan cities, and Rs 35,000/-consolidated (gross) per month, in any other
place.The income ceiling can be relaxed by District Magistrate or any other authorised officer based on the local requirement and subject to availability of accommodation. When the income of any working woman already residing in a hostel exceeds the prescribed limits, she will be required to vacate the hostel within a period of six months of crossing the income ceiling.
The implementing organisation may charge from the residents of the working women‟s hostel a reasonable rent not exceeding 15% of their total emoluments/ gross salary in the case of single bedrooms, 10% in case of the double bedrooms and 7 ½ % in the case of the dormitories. Fees charged from the children in the Day Care Centre should not be more than 5% of the emoluments of their mother, or the actual expenditure whichever is less. The rent for women under training for job shall not exceed the lowest rent charged from any of the working women residing in the same facility. The rent for such trainees may be charged from the institution/ organization sponsoring the training and in case that is not possible from the woman herself. The rent does not include use of the mess and other facilities like washing machines for which user charges should be collected.
As far as possible, women with children are accommodated in single/ double bedrooms instead of dormitory. No working woman is allowed to stay in a hostel, assisted under this scheme for more than three years. In exceptional circumstances, the District Administration may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, allow working women to stay in a hostel, beyond the three-year period, subject to the condition that the period of extension, shall not exceed one year at one time, and that the total stay of the woman, with extensions, shall not exceed five years.
Palna – Creche facility
The Government‟s sustained initiative on education and employment of women has resulted in increased opportunities for their employment, and more and more women are now in gainful employment, working within or outside their homes. The growing industrialization and urban development have led to increased migration into the cities. The past few decades have shown a rapid increase in nuclear families. Thus, the children of such working women, who were earlier getting support from families while they were at work, are now in need of day care services which provide quality care and protection for the children. Children who used to grow up in the secure and warm laps of their grandmothers and other family members are now confronted with an insecure and neglected environment; therefore, women need a safe place for their children in their absence. It has become necessary to provide support to the young children in terms of quality care and other services while the mothers are at work. Effective day care for young children is essential and a cost-effective investment as it provides support to both mothers and young children. Lack of proper day-care services is, often, a deterrent for women to go out and work. Hence, there is an urgent need for improved quality and reach of day care services/crèches for working women amongst all socio- economic groups both in the organized and unorganized sectors.
Considering the difficulties faced by the working mothers in giving due child care and protection to their children, it has been decided to provide the day-care créche facilities through the component of Palna. Creche services formalise the child care facilities hitherto considered as part of domestic work. Formalization of care work supports „decent work campaign‟ to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth.
The objective of the Palna component of the sub-scheme is to address the urgent need for quality crèche care facilities by providing a safe & secure environment for nutritional, health and cognitive development of the children, thereby enabling more mothers to take up gainful employment. The objective to provide crèche facility to all mothers, irrespective of their employment status, is a marked shift from the existing policy, arising out of the understanding that existence of quality crèche facilities is a necessary precondition to encourage women to explore employment opportunities. Apart from the aforementioned primary objective, another objective of the component would involve monitoring compliance of the stipulations laid down in Section 11A of the Maternity Benefit Act regarding setting up of crèche facilities by the establishments.
Under the component, an integrated package of the services such as day care facilities including Sleeping Facilities, Early Stimulation for children below 3 years and Pre-school Education for 3 to 6 years old children, Supplementary Nutrition (to be locally sourced), Growth Monitoring and Health Check-up and Immunization in convergence with Mission Poshan 2.0 will be provided.
The crèche facility caters to children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years. Ideally the number of children in a crèche facility should not be more than 25. The minimum qualification should be Class XII (intermediate) for Crèche workers and Class X (Matriculation) for Creche helpers. In case any suitable person with these qualifications is not available, relaxation may be given by the State Government/District Administration. However, in any case, the qualifications may not be less than Class X and VII for Workers and Helpers respectively. The age limit for both the categories should be 18-35 years at the time of engagement. To maintain the standards of care the Ministry will separately release SOPs.
The crèche should be located in a safe and secure place which is welcoming and child friendly. It is ideal to have the crèche near the homes of children or near the place of work of the mothers (at a walkable distance i.e. ½ – 1 km) so that mothers breastfeeding their babies can conveniently come to feed their babies, parents can be contacted in case of emergencies, and it is easier to pick-up, bring or send the child from home. If a child is absent for a long period of time, the crèche worker can go herself to enquire about the child from his/her home. As far as possible the crèche environment should be akin to the child‟s home atmosphere and should also reflect the lifestyle of the community.
The crèche facility will be provided at Aanganwadi Centers in convergence with Mission Poshan 2.0. The space in the centre may be utilized in a multi-purpose manner, for example, playing area can be converted into a make-shift sleeping place for children by spreading out some durries and mats. This will facilitate organizing activities for the children to promote their development. In summers, the outdoors space may have a clean and safe shaded area.
The Centre should be clean, well-lighted with adequate ventilation. A fan should also be installed in crèches where electricity supply is available. In case there is irregular/no electricity supply; provision of installing an inverter may be made. The centre must have safe and regular drinking water facility. For this, centre may install a water filter/purifier which should be cleaned regularly. In places where there is shortage of water, adequate arrangements for storage of water may be done. Ideally one tank of 300 litres capacity may be installed.
Child friendly toilets including for children with special needs should be available keeping in view the safety and security of children at the centre. A clean, child-friendly toilet with water facilities, soap, clean cloth/towel, garbage bin, wash basin/sink at low level and an exhaust fan may be part of the centre. The water tap should be placed at a height that can be used independently by children. The crèche should have a regular supply of cleaning materials such as phenyl, disinfectants, brooms and swabs, dustbins, garbage bins etc. Regular supervision may be done for improving the services and maintaining hygienic conditions in crèche.
Food provided to the children must have adequate nutritional value as per government prescribed guidelines under Mission Poshan 2.0/ Mid-Day Meal Scheme. As the child stays for 7 and 1/2 hours in the crèche, three meals i.e. one snack/breakfast in the morning, one meal (hot cooked) around noon and one snack in afternoon may be provided. Small children may be provided milk, if required. There should be variety in the food that is given to the children every day. The food should be suited to the requirements of both babies and children. For this, the worker needs to be trained and sensitized about nutritious preparations that are suitable for children below 6 years, and they must cook with due care and cleanliness.
The centre must have adequate cooking facilities, cooking utensils, utensils to feed the children – which should be cleaned before and after use. The cooking area must be located at the place which is away from the activity area of the children to avoid accidents. Basic cooking equipment like stove, gas cylinder or traditional chullhas; feeding equipment; storage bins and boxes must be available and safely placed.
The health check-up of all children registered in the crèche should be done at least once per quarter by registered medical practitioner/doctors from Government Hospitals. The centre must at all times be equipped with basic First Aid & Medicine Kit containing paediatric medicines for common ailments like fever, body ache, vomiting, cough and cold, diarrhoea, ear-ache, eye infection, stomach ache, worm infestation etc. and band-aids/ bandages, cotton wool and disinfectants for minor injuries. ORS packets, scissors, thermometer and antiseptic ointment should also be part of the medicine kit.
The crèche timings need to be flexible depending on the local requirements. Crèches shall be open for 26 days in a month and for seven and half (7-1/2) hours per day as per the work schedule of majority of the mothers in the area.
Ministry of Labour & Employment has notified an amendment to the Maternity Benefit Act mandating that every establishment having fifty or more employees shall have the facility of crèche. It is envisaged to monitor the compliance of establishments with the aforementioned stipulations by hosting an application/portal in convergence with the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
The Government of India is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) with effect from 1st January 2017. The PMMVY Scheme is being implemented as per provisions under Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 which provides for financial support for pregnant and lactating mothers is to improve the health and nutrition for mother and child as well as compensation for wage loss, if any.
The Objectives of the PMMVYis to provide cash incentive for partial compensation for the wage loss so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first child; and to improve health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM). The scheme also seeks to promote positive behavioural change towards girl child by providing additional cash incentive for the second child, if that is a girl child.
Under this component free of charge meal, during pregnancy and six months after the childbirth, through the local Anganwadi is envisaged so as to meet the nutritional standards; and maternity benefit of not less than rupees five thousand, in two instalments will be provided to women belonging to socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society. However, any additional incentive available under any other scheme such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) shall continue to be availed. The eligible beneficiaries would receive the remaining cash incentives as per approved norms towards maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman will get ₹ 6000/- .
The criteria for determining socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society will be the following:
- Women belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes;
- Women who are partially (40%) or fully disabled (Divyang Jan)
- Women holder of BPL ration Card
- Women Beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) under Ayushman Bharat.
- Women holding E-shram card
- Women farmers who are beneficiaries under Kishan Samman Nidhi
- Women holding MGNREGA Job Card
- Women whose net family income is less than Rs. 8 Lakh per annum
- Pregnant and Lactating AWWs/ AWHs/ ASHAs
- Any other category as may be prescribed by the Central Government
Further, all pregnant women and lactating mothers in regular employment with the central Government or State Government or public Sector Undertaking or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force shall not be entitled to benefits under PMMVY.
The benefit is available to a woman for the first two living children provided the second child is a girl. In case of the first child the amount of ₹5000 in two installments and for the second child, the benefit of ₹6000 will be provided subject to second child is a girl child in one installment after the birth. However, for availing benefits for second child, registration during the pregnancy shall be mandatory. This would contribute to improve the Sex Ratio at Birth and to prevent female foeticide.
Benefits can be availed only on the basis of the Aadhaar Number of Beneficiary so as to avoid any duplication or malpractices.
Cash incentives in two installments as per the schedule provided in table below:
| Conditions and Installments | ||
| Installment | Conditions | Amount |
| First Installment | On registration of pregnancy and at least one Ante-natal check-up within 6 months from LMP date at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC)/ approved Health facilities may be identified by the respective administering State /UT | ₹3,000/- |
| Second Installment | i. Child Birth is registered ii. Child has received first cycle of BCG, OPV,DPT and Hepatitis-B or its equivalent/substitute | ₹2,000/- |
In case of miscarriage/still birth, the beneficiary would be treated as fresh beneficiary in event of any future pregnancy.
Procedure for subsuming registered beneficiaries under PMMVY 1.0 in PMVVY 2.0:
· If a woman has already received first instalment of maternity benefit under PMVVY 1.0, she shall be entitled for receiving the cash incentives as per approved norms under previous PMVVY 1.0 guidelines in three instalments under the PMMVY 2.0, if she is otherwise eligible under the scheme and fulfil the conditions laid down for incentives under PMMVY. If she has received 1st and 2nd instalments under PMVVY 1.0, she may receive remaining benefits according to the new PMVVY 2.0 guidelines.
· All the new beneficiaries whose LMP date is after the date of publication of Mission Shakti Guidelines shall receive payments according to the new guidelines of PMVVY 2.0.
The funds to the beneficiaries under PMMVY will be transferred directly to their Bank/Post Office account in Direct Benefit Transfer Mode. An eligible beneficiary can apply, at any point of time but not later than 730 days of pregnancy. LMP registered in the MCP card will be the date of pregnancy to be considered in this respect.If a beneficiary delivers twins/ triplet/ quadruplet in her second pregnancy, with one or more children being girl, then she will be receiving incentive for second girl child as per the PMMVY 2.0 norms.
The scheme would be implemented by MWCD at the Central level while at the State/UT level the concerned State/UT have the option to implement the scheme either through WCD/Social Welfare Department or through Health Department.Procedure to be followed for services under PMMVY are at Annexure-II
The PMMVY is implemented through web-based Management and Information System (MIS) Software, viz. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana-Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS), which is used as an effective tool for regular monitoring of the scheme. If required, a modified portal for the purpose will be putin place.
Gender Budgeting (GB)
Gender Budgeting has been adopted as a tool to facilitate a gender sensitive analysis in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies, programmes and budgets (expenditure and revenue). Gender Budget aims to disaggregate the government‟s budget according to its differential impact on women and men. GB was adopted by the Government of India in 2005-06 as a tool for promoting gender equality and ensuring continued
investments through Government planning and budgeting. Financing for gender equality is central to mitigate gender inequalities, and GB is a critical strategy in this endeavour.
Under the Samarthya component, Gender Budgeting, Research, Publication & Monitoring schemes have been included under the Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW). The goal of Gender Budgeting is to enable government stakeholders at the central, state and district level to undertake gender budgeting through enhanced capacities, knowledge and skills.
In order to achieve the objectives, implementing organisations/agencies will undertake the following activities (which are illustrative and not comprehensive):
- Develop training modules/packages, training material, teaching aids including A/V tools and manuals on gender budgeting.
- Organize workshops, seminars, training programmes, conferences etc to facilitate capacity building and training for various stakeholders including officials of Central and State Governments, PSUs, corporate sector, PRIs and NGOs, etc on gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting.
- Embed training on gender budgeting in curriculum of administrative and government training institutes.
- Develop an online certificate course on gender budgeting for government and non- government stakeholders through collaboration with training institutions and academies.
- Undertake seminars and consultations to ensure inter-state peer learning and sharing on gender budgeting initiatives and promote best practices.
- Conduct gender analysis of national and sub-national policies, legal frameworks, women-related legislations, government schemes and programs.
- Assess the adequacy of budget allocations to implement the gender responsive policies and programmes.
- To coordinate and monitor gender budgeting exercises of Gender Budgeting Cells and facilitate gender budgeting analysis.
- To conduct and promote gender-based impact assessments, beneficiary needs assessment, beneficiary incidence analysis, and gender audit of schemes and legislations.
- Any other activity that contributes to achieving the scheme objectives.
The implementing organisation/ agency can be the Social Welfare/Women and Child Development/GB Nodal Department of the State/UT itself or any of the following on the recommendation of the State/UT: –
- Women‟s Development Corporations/ Centres established by State/UT
- State Commissions for Women
- Panchayati Raj Institutions & Urban Local Bodies
- Government Training Institutes
- Universities & UGC approved Institutions
- Public Sector Undertakings
- Any other organisations with three years‟ experience after registration
The institutions of national importance set up by the Central Government may apply directly to the Ministry. Other institutions set up by the Central Government, may apply to the Ministry duly recommended by the concerned administrative Ministry.
The proposals for funding may be submitted to the Program Approval Board (PAB) for consideration. While submitting the proposal, it may be ensured that implementing organization/agency must have adequate experience in implementing women and child related projects and programmes etc. It should have facilities, resources and personnel to implement the project for which assistance is sought. The cost norms for the various levels of trainings are at
Annexure III.
Nodal authority for implementation of the Gender Budgeting is as follows:
(i). At the Central Level, the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
(ii). At the State Level, the Departments of Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, Finance or Planning Department, as the case may be.
(iii). State/UT and District Hub for Empowerment of Women to coordinate and fulfil scheme objectives. Every State/UT/ District hub shall have at least one gender specialist, to look after implementation Gender Budgeting.
As the aim of Gender Budgeting is to integrate gender perspective at all levels of development, grants under the component will be made available for Workshop/Training Programmes at the following five levels:
i. Panchayat level
ii. District level
iii. State level
iv. Regional level and
v. National level
The Ministry will put in place a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for Gender Budgeting that will be available on the website of the Ministry.
Source: