Employment & Welfare Schemes (Part – II)

31. The scheme 'DWCRA'is associated with: [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 1999]

(a) Upliftment of women living below poverty line
(b) Upliftment of children living below poverty line
(c) Providing food to children in primary schools
(d) Distribution of free wheat to retain children in schools

Correct Answer: (a) Upliftment of women living below poverty line

Solution: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.

32. Swawlamban Scheme fulfills which of the following objectives? [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006]

(a) Employment to rural women
(b) Employment to urban women
(c) Employment to handicapped people
(d) Providing skill and training to the women

Correct Answer: (d) Providing skill and training to the women

Solution: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 providing them training and skills in traditional and non-traditional occupations. While, in the year 2010 another Swavalamban Scheme' was launched by the Government of India for the workers of unorganized sectors.

33. What is the name of the scheme which provides training and skills to women in traditional and non-traditional trades? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2008]

(a) Kishori Shakti Yojana
(b) Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
(c) Swayamsiddha
(d) Swawlamban

Correct Answer: (d) Swawlamban

Solution: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 providing them training and skills in traditional and non-traditional occupations. While, in the year 2010 another Swavalamban Scheme' was launched by the Government of India for the workers of unorganized sectors.

34. Two of the schemes launched by the Government of India for women's development are Swadhar and Swayam Siddha. As regards the difference between them, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2010]

1. Swayam Siddha is meant for those in difficult circumstances such as women survivors of natural disasters or terrorism, women prisoners released from jails, mentally challenged women etc. whereas, Swadhar is meant for holistic empowerment of women though Self Help Groups

2. Swayam Siddha is implemented through Local Self Government bodies or reputed Voluntary Organizations whereas Swadhar is implemented through the ICDS units set up in the States.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: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.

35. 'Swadhar' is the scheme for: [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2013, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]

(a) Unique
(b) Self-employment for males
(c) Women in difficult circumstances
(d) Common home of senior citizens

Correct Answer: (c) Women in difficult circumstances

Solution: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.

36. For empowerment of women Indira Mahila Shakti Nidhi was launched on: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) 18 December, 2019
(b) 18 December, 2018
(c) 18 December, 2016
(d) 18 December, 2017

Correct Answer: (a) 18 December, 2019

Solution: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.

37. Recently (in 2013) Government of India has approved the proposal of providing loans to Women Self Help Groups at a lower interest rate to eradicate poverty through women empowerment. The interest rate is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]

(a) 7%
(b) 6.5%
(c) 7.5%
(d) 8%

Correct Answer: (a) 7%

Solution: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%.

38. Which of the following is not correctly matched? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Mahila Samridhi Yojana-1993
(b) Women Self-Empowerment
(c) Women Empire Plan-1989
(d) National Posahar Mission Plan-2003

Correct Answer: (c) Women Empire Plan-1989

Solution: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.

39. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1997]

List - I	List - II
A. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh	1. Empowerment of women
B. Mahila Samriddhi Yojana	2. Education for women’s equality
C. Indira Mahila Yojana	3. Promotion of savings among rural women
D. Mahila Samakhya Programme	4. Meeting credit needs of the poor women

Code:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	3	2	1	4
(b)	1	3	4	2
(c)	4	3	1	2
(d)	4	1	2	3

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer: (c)

Solution:The correctly matched lists are as follows:

Scheme	Content
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh	Meeting credit needs of the poor women
Mahila Samriddhi Yojana	Promotion of savings among rural women
Indira Mahila Yojana	Empowerment of women
Mahila Samakhya Programme	Education for women’s equality

40. Mahila Samriddhi Yojana was started in India in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

(a) 1992
(b) 1993
(c) 1994
(d) 1995

Correct Answer: (b) 1993

Solution: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.