Important Schemes for Women Empowerment and Child Development in India: Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Poshan 2.0, PMMVY, BBBP and Facts

The Three Umbrella Missions of MWCD

• Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (2021): merges Anganwadi Services (ICDS, 1975), the Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Poshan Abhiyaan (launched 8 March 2018 at Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan) to reduce stunting, wasting, anaemia and low birth weight through the 14 lakh anganwadi centres.
• Mission Vatsalya (2021): child protection services and child welfare, successor of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (2009); supports child care institutions, foster care, adoption (CARA), Childline 1098 and juvenile justice structures.
• Mission Shakti (2021, guidelines 2022): two sub-schemes – Sambal for safety and security (One Stop Centres, Women Helpline 181, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Adalat) and Samarthya for empowerment (Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas working women’s hostels, Palna creches, PMMVY, Hub for Empowerment of Women).

Key Schemes for Women

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), 1 January 2017: maternity benefit of Rs 5,000 for the first child and, under PMMVY 2.0 (2022), Rs 6,000 for a second child if a girl; complements the Janani Suraksha Yojana.
• One Stop Centres (Sakhi), 2015: integrated support – medical, legal, police, counselling and shelter – for women affected by violence; more than 750 centres.
• Swadhar Greh (2015) and Ujjawala (2007): shelter and rehabilitation for women in difficult circumstances and for victims of trafficking; now merged as Shakti Sadan.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (1993): micro-credit for poor women through NGOs and self-help groups.
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (22 January 2015), Ministry of Finance: small-savings account for a girl child under 10, with the highest interest among small-savings schemes and tax exemption.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (1 May 2016), Ministry of Petroleum: free LPG connections to women of poor households – different from MWCD’s Ujjawala anti-trafficking scheme.
• Lakhpati Didi (2023), Ministry of Rural Development: target of 3 crore self-help-group women earning at least Rs 1 lakh a year.

Key Schemes for Children

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (22 January 2015, Panipat): improving the child sex ratio and girls’ education; joint programme of MWCD, Education and Health ministries.
• PM CARES for Children (29 May 2021): for children who lost both parents or the surviving parent to COVID-19 – Rs 10 lakh corpus at 23, education support, Ayushman Bharat cover.
• Palna (National Creche Scheme, 2006): day-care for children of working mothers, now under Mission Shakti.
• Integrated Child Development Services (2 October 1975): the anganwadi system – supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, immunisation and health check-ups for children under six and for pregnant and lactating women.

FAQs

What is the difference between Ujjawala and Ujjwala?

Ujjawala (2007, MWCD) is the anti-trafficking rehabilitation scheme; Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (2016, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) gives free LPG connections.

What does Mission Shakti cover?

Everything from helplines and One Stop Centres for women facing violence (Sambal) to hostels, creches, maternity benefit and skilling for economic empowerment (Samarthya).

Why are these schemes asked in exams?

Launch dates, nodal ministries and the restructured umbrella missions are frequent one-liners in RBI, NABARD, SSC and state exams.