Daily Current Affairs : 24-July-2023
In recent years, India has made significant strides in empowering women in rural areas. The Union Minister for Women & Child Development highlighted various schemes aimed at uplifting rural women during a session in the Lok Sabha. These initiatives have played a crucial role in providing opportunities, financial support, and skill development to rural women, transforming their lives and contributing to their overall well-being.
- Reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions
One of the most significant steps towards empowering rural women was the 73rd amendment to the Constitution, which reserved 1/3rd of seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for women. This policy has resulted in the election of more than 14.50 lakh Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in PRIs, accounting for approximately 46% of the total elected representatives. This move has given women a platform to actively participate in decision-making processes at the grassroots level.
- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM)
Under the NRLM, nearly 9.00 crore women are connected with around 83.5 lakh women’s self-help groups. These groups provide women with access to governmental support, including collateral-free loans. Such financial assistance enables rural women to engage in income-generating activities and gain financial independence.
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
The MGNREGA mandates that at least one-third of the jobs generated under the scheme should be given to women. By providing rural women with guaranteed employment opportunities, the scheme not only boosts their income but also enhances their social status and participation in the workforce.
- E-NAM (National Agriculture Market)
The E-NAM platform facilitates online trading of agricultural commodities and has been instrumental in breaking barriers that rural women face in accessing markets. By enabling direct access to buyers, women farmers can obtain fair prices for their produce and overcome traditional market constraints.
- Skill Development and Training
The government has taken measures to enhance the employability of female workers through various training institutes, including Women Industrial Training Institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes, and Regional Vocational Training Institutes. Additionally, the Skill India Mission focuses on providing skill development and vocational training to empower women economically.
- Anganwadi Scheme
The Anganwadi Services, part of Mission Poshan 2.0, offer essential services, including the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), to pregnant and lactating women. This initiative aims to improve maternal health and nutrition, ensuring the well-being of both mother and child.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
PMMVY provides cash incentives to pregnant and lactating mothers to encourage proper care and institutional service utilization during pregnancy and lactation. This scheme promotes health-seeking behavior and ensures financial support for women during this crucial phase of their lives.
- Swachchh Bharat Mission
The construction of over 11.00 crore toilets under the Swachchh Bharat Mission has had a profound impact on the lives of rural women. Access to clean and safe sanitation facilities has not only improved health and hygiene but also provided women with greater dignity and privacy.
- Ujjwala Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission
The Ujjwala Yojana aims to provide clean cooking gas connections to women below the poverty line, reducing their exposure to indoor air pollution. Simultaneously, the Jal Jeevan Mission strives to provide tap drinking water connections to rural households, lessening the burden of women who often bear the responsibility of fetching water.
- Prime Minister’s Rural Digital Literacy Campaign (PMGDISHA)
The PMGDISHA seeks to make 6 crore persons digitally literate, with over 53% of the beneficiaries being women. Digital literacy enables women to access information, services, and economic opportunities through digital platforms, thereby enhancing their socio-economic empowerment.
- Mission Shakti – An Integrated Women Empowerment Programme
The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements Mission Shakti, an umbrella scheme aimed at ensuring the safety, security, and empowerment of women. It includes two sub-schemes – “Sambal” for safety and security and “Samarthya” for empowerment. The “Samarthya” sub-scheme, particularly the Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW), promotes inter-sectoral convergence of women-centric schemes at different administrative levels.
Important Points:
- 1/3rd seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are reserved for women, leading to the election of over 14.50 lakh Elected Women Representatives (EWRs), approximately 46% of total representatives.
- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) connects nearly 9.00 crore women with around 83.5 lakh women’s self-help groups, providing access to governmental support and collateral-free loans.
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) mandates at least one-third of the jobs generated to be given to women, providing guaranteed employment opportunities and enhancing their social status.
- E-NAM (National Agriculture Market) facilitates online trading, enabling women farmers to overcome market barriers and access fair prices for their produce.
- Skill development and training initiatives aim to enhance the employability of female workers and provide economic independence.
- The Anganwadi Scheme, part of Mission Poshan 2.0, offers essential services, including the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), to pregnant and lactating women, promoting maternal health and nutrition.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) provides cash incentives to pregnant and lactating mothers, encouraging proper care and institutional service utilization.
- Swachchh Bharat Mission has transformed the lives of rural women by constructing over 11.00 crore toilets, improving health, hygiene, dignity, and privacy.
- Ujjwala Yojana provides clean cooking gas connections to women below the poverty line, reducing indoor air pollution exposure.
- Jal Jeevan Mission connects over 12.59 crore rural households with tap drinking water connections, lessening the burden of fetching water for women.
- Prime Minister’s Rural Digital Literacy Campaign (PMGDISHA) aims to make 6 crore persons digitally literate, with over 53% of beneficiaries being women.
- Mission Shakti, an Integrated Women Empowerment Programme, ensures safety, security, and empowerment of women, including the “Sambal” sub-scheme for safety and “Samarthya” sub-scheme for empowerment, which includes Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) for inter-sectoral convergence of women-centric schemes.
Why In News
In her address to the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister for Women & Child Development passionately highlighted a diverse array of schemes designed to empower rural women across the nation. Emphasizing the government’s commitment to gender equality and socio-economic upliftment, the Minister expressed optimism about the transformative impact these initiatives would have on the lives of rural women and their communities.
MCQs about Empowering Rural Women in India
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Which initiative aims to provide clean cooking gas connections to women below the poverty line in rural areas?
A. Swachchh Bharat Mission
B. Mission Shakti
C. Ujjwala Yojana
D. PMGDISHA
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Under which scheme do pregnant and lactating mothers receive cash incentives to promote health-seeking behavior and institutional service utilization?
A. National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM)
B. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
C. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
D. Anganwadi Scheme
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What is the main objective of the Prime Minister’s Rural Digital Literacy Campaign (PMGDISHA)?
A. To provide financial support to pregnant and lactating mothers
B. To connect rural households with tap drinking water connections
C. To make persons digitally literate in rural areas
D. To reserve seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
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