Employment & Welfare Schemes (Part – II)

Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) scheme was launched during the year 1982-83. The main objective of DWCRA was to improve the socio- economic, health and educational status of rural women by providing financial assistance and creating employment opportunities for them to become self-reliant and to raise their standard of living. The DWCRA was aimed to improve the socio-economic status of the poor women in the rural areas through the creation of groups of women for income-generating activities on a self-sustaining basis. The scheme had been merged into Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana from April, 1999.

Swawlamban Scheme' which earlier known as NORAD as- sisted Mahila Aarthik Karykram, was launched in 1982-83 in the whole country. The objective of the scheme is to help women in getting employment or self-employment by pro- viding them training and skills in traditional and non-tradi- tional occupations. While, in the year 2010 another Swavalamban Scheme' was launched by the Government of India for the workers of unorganized sectors.

Swawlamban Scheme' which earlier known as NORAD as- sisted Mahila Aarthik Karykram, was launched in 1982-83 in the whole country. The objective of the scheme is to help women in getting employment or self-employment by pro- viding them training and skills in traditional and non-tradi- tional occupations. While, in the year 2010 another Swavalamban Scheme' was launched by the Government of India for the workers of unorganized sectors.

The Government of India launched the 'Swayam Siddha' scheme in the year 2001. Under this, 'Holistic Empowerment of Women' was emphasized through Self Help Groups (SHG). Swayam Siddha Scheme seeks to empower women through series of programmes of awareness generation, the achievement of economic strength through micro-level income-generating activities and establish the convergence of various services such as literacy, health, rural development etc. 'Swadhar' scheme was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2001-02 for addressing the requirements of women in difficult circumstances. The objectives of the scheme are to rehabilitate widows, victims of natural calamities, mentally challenged destitute women and women released from prison etc. The scheme provides support like food and shelter, counselling, medical facilities and vocational training to women. Swayam Siddha and Swadhar, both the schemes have provisioned to be implemented by Government bodies and Self Help Groups. Thus, both the given statements are incorrect.

The Government of India launched the 'Swayam Siddha' scheme in the year 2001. Under this, 'Holistic Empowerment of Women' was emphasized through Self Help Groups (SHG). Swayam Siddha Scheme seeks to empower women through series of programmes of awareness generation, the achievement of economic strength through micro-level income-generating activities and establish the convergence of various services such as literacy, health, rural development etc. 'Swadhar' scheme was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2001-02 for addressing the requirements of women in difficult circumstances. The objectives of the scheme are to rehabilitate widows, victims of natural calamities, mentally challenged destitute women and women released from prison etc. The scheme provides support like food and shelter, counselling, medical facilities and vocational training to women. Swayam Siddha and Swadhar, both the schemes have provisioned to be implemented by Government bodies and Self Help Groups. Thus, both the given statements are incorrect.

For the empowerment of women, Indira Mahila Shakti Nidhi was launched in Rajasthan on 18 December, 2019. The scheme was announced in the budget 2019-20. Under the scheme, Rs. 1,000 crore Mahila Shakti Nidhi was formed. The fund was used for activities related to setting up of enterprises for women, assistance for modern research, training for skill development and rehabilitation of the victims.

In order to financially strengthen Women Self Help Groups across India, the Union Cabinet has approved the change in the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) with the objective of empowering village women keeping in view the goal of poverty alleviation. On 5 May, 2013, Government had announced to provide bank loans to Women SHGs at the interest rate of 7%.

The 'Mahila Samridhi Yojana' was introduced on 2 October, 1993 as a micro-finance policy to uplift rural women and women belonging to financially deficient sections.

The 'Mahila Swa-shakti Project' (Women Self-Empowerment Plan), as known as Rural Women's Development and Empowerment Project was started in 1998 as a centrally sponsored project with assistance from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Bank's Inter- national Development Association. The 'National Posahar Mission' was first set up by the Gov- ernment of India in 2003. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'National Nutrition (Poshan) Mission' (PM's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) on the occasion of the International Women's Day on 8 March, 2018 from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. It is Government of India's flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. 'Mahila Samakhya (not Samrajya/Empire) Programme' was launched in 1988 to pursue the National Policy on Education, 1986. It recognised that education can be an effective tool for women's empowerment. Hence, pair of option (c) is not correctly matched.

The correctly matched lists are as follows:

The Mahila Samriddhi Yojana was introduced on October 2, 1993 as a micro-finance scheme for upliftment of rural women. The objective of the scheme is to empower rural women through development of thrift habit and building confidence and self reliance. 'Indira Mahila Yojana' and 'Mahila Samriddhi Yojana' were merged into 'Mahila Swayam Siddhi Yojana' on July 12, 2001, which was started for socio-eco- nomic empowerment of women.