SRINAGAR: In Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India has been intensifying efforts to empower women through various initiatives designed to address their safety, security, and economic well-being, the government said in Rajya Sabha in response to a question about the overall basket of schemes across the country.
Jammu and Kashmir has made significant strides in these programs, with 12,581 women benefiting from One Stop Centres (OSCs) and 10,684 women supported through Women Helplines (WHL) as of October 2024. Additionally, 409,130 women in the region have received benefits from the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), highlighting the government’s commitment to women’s health and financial empowerment in the region. These efforts are helping women in distress and ensuring their social and economic upliftment.
Since the implementation of these schemes, women in the region have witnessed significant improvements in access to healthcare, safety measures, and educational support, contributing to the overall empowerment of women in Jammu and Kashmir.
As of December 2024, several schemes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development are being executed across the country, and Jammu and Kashmir has been a key beneficiary. These schemes, such as Mission Shakti, Mission Poshan 2.0, and Mission Vatsalya, are designed to meet the diverse needs of women and children, from safety and security to nutrition, child protection, and maternity benefits. The Government’s comprehensive approach aims to ensure that women, especially in rural and underserved areas, receive the support they need to overcome societal barriers and lead fulfilling lives.
Mission Shakti is one of the primary schemes designed to safeguard and empower women. It is divided into two sub-schemes: Sambal and Samarthya. Sambal focuses on women’s safety and security. It includes the following components:
One Stop Centres (OSCs): These centres provide immediate support to women in distress. They offer temporary shelter, medical assistance, police help, counselling, and legal support, all under one roof.
Women Helplines (WHL): The 181 Women Helpline provides a 24-hour toll-free service, offering immediate assistance and information to women in need. It is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) and is also linked with One Stop Centres for better coordination.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): This initiative works to change societal attitudes towards the girl child, promoting gender equality through awareness campaigns and targeted interventions.
Nari Adalat: This is an alternative grievance redressal mechanism at the Gram Panchayat level, providing women with access to justice through mediation and reconciliation. The programme has been successfully piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, helping women resolve issues at the grassroots level.
Samarthya aims to empower women by focusing on economic and social support. It includes:
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): This scheme provides maternity benefits to women, with cash incentives of Rs 5,000 for the first child and Rs 6,000 for the second child if the child is a girl. These payments are made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiary’s bank or post office account.
Shakti Sadan: An Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for women in distress situations, providing a safe and secure environment for those facing abuse or difficult circumstances.
Sakhi Niwas: This scheme, also known as the Working Women Hostel, offers safe and convenient accommodation for working women in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas, where they can access employment opportunities with better security.
Palna: The scheme provides daycare crèche facilities to ensure that children of working women are looked after in a safe environment, facilitating better work-life balance.
SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW): This programme bridges the information gap regarding schemes available for women and acts as a monitoring unit for all components under Mission Shakti.
Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi): Under Mission Poshan 2.0, the focus is on improving nutrition and health indicators among children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls. This scheme reorganises the Anganwadi services to provide comprehensive nutrition support and early childhood care and education. The programme also aims to upgrade the infrastructure of Anganwadis, ensuring modern, safe, and well-equipped centres for the children and women in the region. The scheme has been crucial in areas like Jammu and Kashmir, where access to nutrition and healthcare services can be limited, particularly in remote locations.
Mission Vatsalya, previously known as the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), is aimed at the protection and welfare of children in difficult circumstances, including children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with the law. The scheme provides both institutional and non-institutional care in a mission mode, ensuring a holistic development approach for children from diverse backgrounds. It includes emergency outreach services through Child Helpline (1098), offering immediate assistance to children in distress. In Jammu and Kashmir, this programme has been vital in addressing child protection issues and providing a safer environment for vulnerable children.
