MISSION SHAKTI

Let’s understand this mission in layers, from concept to implementation.

🧭 Purpose and Nature of the Scheme

Mission Shakti is not a single scheme, but a composite umbrella programme. It brings together multiple schemes focused on the safety, security, and empowerment of women — and not just at one life stage, but across their entire life-cycle.

• Type: It’s both a Central Sector Scheme (100% funded by the Centre) and a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (shared funding between Centre and States).
• Monitoring Body: Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) at National, State, and District levels monitors its performance.
• Time Frame: 2021-22 to 2025-26 (5-year duration under the 15th Finance Commission Cycle)

🎯 Objectives

• Women’s Empowerment through skill development, economic support, and care services.
• Reducing the burden of unpaid care work (like childcare) on women.
• Providing support to women affected by violence.
• Raising awareness and promoting positive behavioural change in society regarding women and girls.
• Training frontline workers and collaborating with other Ministries/Departments for convergence.

🧩 Components: Two Sub-Schemes

Mission Shakti has two major verticals:

A. SAMBAL – Safety and Security of Women

Fully 100% funded by the Centre, includes:

1. One Stop Centres (OSCs):
   Single-window support to women facing violence — counselling, police aid, legal aid, medical help, temporary shelter — all under one roof.
2. Women Helpline (181):
   Toll-free 24×7 service for women seeking emergency support, integrated with OSCs and other emergency services.
3. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP):
   • Now expanded to all districts (earlier in 405 only).
   • Focused on on-ground impact — promoting sports, self-defence training, etc., rather than just publicity.
   • Emphasis on zero-budget advertising (maximizing impact with minimal expense).
4. Nari Adalats (Women’s Courts):
   • Community-based, non-legal grievance redressal bodies at the Gram Panchayat level.
   • Handle petty disputes (harassment, domestic issues).
   • Formed by socially respected local women, no salary/remuneration.
   • Ministry funds meeting expenses, uniforms, and badges.
   • Important: They do not have legal authority, but play a supportive role in delivering justice at grassroots.

🔷 SAMARTHYA – Empowerment of Women

Jointly funded by Centre and States, includes schemes for economic and social empowerment:

1. Shakti Sadan:
   A composite shelter home that merges Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala schemes.
   • Provides food, shelter, clothing, and basic needs for destitute women, trafficking survivors, etc.
   • Bank accounts opened for residents.
   • ₹500/month deposited per resident (non-withdrawable during stay).
   • Children of residents:
     • Girls (any age) and boys (up to 12) may stay.
     • Boys over 12 moved to Child Homes under JJ Act/ICPS.
2. Anti-Human Trafficking Units:
   • For rescue, repatriation, and rehabilitation of trafficking victims.
   • Operate at the district level.
3. Home for Widows:
   • Central Sector Scheme, fully Centre-funded.
   • Provides safe accommodation for 1000 widows with health, nutrition, legal, and counselling services.
4. Sakhi Niwas (Working Women Hostel):
   • Affordable and safe hostels for working women and students who live away from family.
5. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
   • Offers cash incentives to pregnant and lactating women for partial wage loss.
   • Linked to NFSA, 2013 under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

🧒 Integrated Child Development Support (Linked with Mission Poshan 2.0)

The Samarthya component works in convergence with Mission Poshan 2.0, offering a comprehensive care package for working mothers and their children:

• Daycare centres
• Early stimulation for children <3 years
• Pre-school education for 3–6 years
• Supplementary nutrition
• Growth monitoring & immunization

🧵 Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW)

This is a nodal mechanism set up at three levels — National, State, and District, with the following roles:

• Coordination between various women-centric schemes
• Capacity-building, awareness campaigns, monitoring
• Gender Budgeting support (since Gender Budgeting was adopted in 2005-06)

Under HEW:

• Mahila Shakti Kendra and Mahila Police Volunteers have been discontinued
• New features added:
  • Research, publications, monitoring
  • Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment (bridging critical funding needs)

🗂️ Implementation Mechanisms & Governance Tools

✅ Key Governance Strategies:

• Convergence of schemes — coordinated implementation
• Programme Approval Board (PAB): To approve State/UT financial proposals
• Geo-tagging: For real-time location-based monitoring of supported institutions
• Social Audit: To gather direct feedback from beneficiaries

📝 State Governments must:

• Use the official names of all schemes in correct translation
• Follow Centre’s branding and fund release procedures

⚖️ Gender Budgeting: A Broader Context

• Gender Budgeting is a policy tool adopted in 2005-06 to ensure that budget allocations reflect gender priorities.
• It helps the government in:
  • Planning for inclusive development
  • Correcting historical inequalities
  • Ensuring financial commitment to gender equity

📌 In Summary: Why Mission Shakti Matters

Mission Shakti is a comprehensive architecture built to provide:

• Protection (SAMBAL)
• Empowerment (SAMARTHYA)
• Integration (HEW & Convergence)

It’s not just about creating new schemes — it’s about streamlining, strengthening, and synchronising existing efforts so that women across India, from villages to metros, can feel safe, become economically empowered, and live with dignity.