Govt approves new scheme to empower rural women

The government has approved a new scheme to empower rural women through community participation, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

The cost for implementing the scheme, Mahila Shakti Kendra, from 2017-18 up to 2019-20 would be shared in the 60:40 ratio between the Centre and states, except for northeast and special category states where the ratio is 90:10, Union minister Virendra Kumar said.

The scheme is envisaged to work at the national level (domain based knowledge support) and state level (State Resource Centre for Women for technical support) to governments on issues related to women.

Community engagement through college student volunteers is envisioned in 115 aspirational districts as part of the block level initiatives.

Student volunteers are to play an instrumental role in awareness generation regarding various important government schemes and programmes as well as social issues.

District Level Centre for Women (DLCW) has also been envisaged for 640 districts to be covered in a phased manner, the Minister of State for Women and Child Development said.

These centres to serve as a link between village, block and state level in facilitating women centric schemes and also give foothold for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme at the district level.