Here’s for you to take a look at the Government Schemes for women in India!
For so long, women have been sidelined, confined to the four walls of a room, or have been a victim of violence. But as times are changing, the governments of many countries, including India, have started schemes for women to empower them. They play a vital role in assisting women in living a dignified and financially independent life. It is also a step to acknowledge women’s contribution to the social and economic progress of the country. Let’s take a look at a few government schemes for women in India.
5 Indian Government Schemes For Women Empowerment
Annapurna scheme
This program is designed for women who want to start a small business in the catering industry. It provides loans of up to 50,000 for the purchase of kitchen appliances, gas connections, raw materials, filters, and essentials, among other things. It meets the business’s working capital requirements and aids in sales growth. They can sell pre-packaged foods and snacks.
After obtaining the loan, the entrepreneur can repay it in 36 installments over a three-year period. The interest rates on the loans are set in accordance with market conditions. In addition, they are not required to pay the EMI for the first month. This gives the borrower enough time to turn a profit and return the money.
STEP
STEP stands for Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women, a scheme that aims to provide skill training to women. This enables them to secure employment or become self-employed/entrepreneurs. It is one of the oldest government schemes for women that was implemented in 1986–87. It includes women in poor and marginalized traditional trade in the informal sector.
It is for the benefit of women in the age group of 16 years and above. It increases self-reliance and helps them become financially independent. The program is available in skill-developing sectors, including agriculture, horticulture, food processing, handlooms, tailoring, stitching, embroidery, zari, etc. The training period is usually for a minimum of 3 months or 6 months in exceptional cases.
Udyogini Scheme
The Women Development Corporation is in charge of implementing the Udyogini scheme. It offers subsidized loans to aspiring female entrepreneurs from the country’s rural and underdeveloped areas. This program is for women with a family income of 1.5 lakh or less per year. It provides them with a loan of up to 3 lakh to help them start their own businesses and become financially stable.
The government has proposed a 30% subsidy on loans extended under this scheme. As these women find new ways to earn a living, it adds to the economic growth of the country. This scheme is open to women between the ages of 18 and 55. Udyogini loan is offered by both government and private banks.
Swadhar Greh
The Swadhar Greh scheme was launched by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. It provides food, shelter, clothing, and health facilities to women in distress or those without any social and economic support. The beneficiaries usually include widows or girls deserted by their families and relatives, women prisoners released from jail and without family support, survivors of natural disasters, victims of domestic/sexual violence, etc. Even the children of these women can stay at the institution with them.
Women are also given legal aid and guidance as part of this program, which helps them adjust to their new life. It serves as a support system and helps them live a dignified life. The scheme allows the establishment of one Swadhar Greh in every district with a capacity of 30 women. It is usually implemented by NGOs dedicated to the support and rehabilitation of women.
Mahila E-haat
With rapid digitalization of the world, the Mahila e-haat is an online marketing platform for female entrepreneurs and manufacturers. It was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and aligns with the Stand Up India and Digital India initiatives. Many women do not have the financial means to go to markets and sell their products on their own. Therefore, Mahila-e-haat enables them to showcase their products online and sell in a larger market.
From clothing, pottery, jewellery, bags to listing tailoring services, women can benefit from the scheme in various ways. It enables buyers to connect directly with manufacturers and sellers without the interference from middlemen. The profit goes to the sellers/manufacturers, and this has given women the opportunity to gain financial freedom and stability. The platform received registrations from about 1.25 lakh women and 10000+ self-help groups when it was launched.
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