Mission Shakti –

The Government of India launched the ‘Mission Shakti’ – an integrated women empowerment programme as umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of women for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period.

Mission Shakti has two sub-schemes – ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’. While the “Sambal” sub-scheme is for safety and security of women, the “Samarthya” sub-scheme is for empowerment of women.

The components of ‘Samarthya’ sub scheme consists of erstwhile schemes of Ujjwala Homes, Swadhar Greh and Working Women Hostel, National Crèche Scheme for children of working mothers and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) with modifications. It also consists of HUBs at national, state and district levels for Empowerment of Women.

The components of ‘Sambal’ sub scheme consists of schemes of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) with modifications.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is the Nodal Ministry for holistic development of Women and Children. The Department of Social Welfare is the Nodal Department to implement Mission Shakti.

1.1 VISION AND MISSION

‘Mission Shakti’ is a scheme in mission mode aimed at strengthening interventions for women safety, security and empowerment. It seeks to realise the Government’s commitment for „women-led development‟ by addressing issues affecting women on a life-cycle continuum basis and by making them equal partners in nation-building through convergence and citizen-ownership. It seeks to focus on proposing strategies for improving convergence across Ministries/Departments and at different levels of governance. It also seeks to promote greater participation and support of Panchayats and other local level governance bodies.

1.2 OBJECTIVE OF MISSION SHAKTI

The objective of the Mission Shakti is to provide to all women and girls including differently-abled, socially and economically marginalized and vulnerable groups, in need of care and protection, with short term and long-term services and information for their holistic development and empowerment.

The objectives of the Mission are as under:

  1. Provide immediate and comprehensive continuum of care, support and assistance to women affected by violence and for those in distress;
  2. To put in place quality mechanisms for rescue, protection and rehabilitation of women in need of assistance and victims of crime and violence;
  3. To improve accessibility to various government services available for women at various levels;
  4. Making people aware about Government schemes and programmes as well as legal provisions to fight social evils like dowry, domestic violence, Sexual Harassment at Workplace and to promote gender equality etc.
  5. Capacity building and training of functionaries/ duty bearers under various schemes/ Legislations;
  6. Collaboration with partner Ministries/ Departments/ States for convergence of policies, programmes/ schemes and to create an enabling environment for public private partnership for safety and empowerment of women across sectors.
  7. Create awareness among masses for inducing positive behavioural change towards women and girls.
  8. To prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination; to ensure survival, protection, education and development of the girl child.

Inspired by the Constitutional commitment to Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy (particularly the Right to Equality and Right against Exploitation), India’s commitment to international treaties and conventions as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it seeks to make women economically empowered, exercising free choice over their minds and bodies in an atmosphere free from violence and threat. It also seeks to reduce the care burden on women and increase female labour force participation by promoting skill development, capacity building, financial literacy, access to micro-credit etc.