WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES

 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES

Empowerment of women is a major social phenomenon which requires an understanding of its multi-dimensional influence, including our family structures and units.

‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ Scheme (BBBP)

Alarmed by sharp decline in child sex ratio, the government has introduced Beti Baachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme in 100 gender critical districts.  The overall goal of this scheme is to celebrate the girl child and enable her education.  It aims to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination, ensure survival and protection of the girl child and ensure education of the girl child.  The Bedi Bachao Beti Padhao initiative has two major components-mass communication campaign and multi-sectoral action in 100 selected districts.

National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW)

This mission aims to achieve holistic empowerment of women through convergence of schemes of different ministries/departments of Central and State Government.  It aims to strengthen the conceptual and programmatic basis of women centric schemes implemented by the ministry of women and child development, other ministries and the State Government with the mechanism for convergence.

Ujjawala Scheme

It is a comprehensive scheme for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.  The objectives of the scheme include social mobilization and involvement of local communities, awareness generation programmes, and generating public discourse through workshops and seminars.  Target groups include women and children who are vulnerable for trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

Swadhar Scheme

The Swadhar Scheme was launched by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2002 for rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances.  The scheme provides shelter, food, clothing and care to the margnalised women/girls who are in need.

The beneficiaries include widows deserted by their families and relatives, women prisoners released from jail and without family support, women survivors of natural disasters, women victims of terrorist/extremist violence etc.

The implementing agencies are mainly NGOs.  An Evaluation Study conducted through Centre for Market Research and Social Development to assess the performance of the scheme observed that the scheme is successful for which it was formulated/implemented.