Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) provided details on the implementation of welfare schemes for women and children in response to a parliamentary question on August 8, 2025. The schemes are organized under three Umbrella Missions: Mission Saksham Anganwadi Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti, and Mission Vatsalya. A third-party evaluation of centrally sponsored schemes was conducted by NITI Aayog in 2020, leading to modifications in the guidelines under Mission Shakti and Poshan 2.0.
Key Points / Main Content:
Umbrella Missions:
* All schemes for women and children are consolidated into three missions for better implementation and monitoring:
* Mission Saksham Anganwadi Poshan 2.0: Aims to improve nutrition and health indicators.
* Mission Shakti: Focuses on the safety, protection, and empowerment of women.
* Mission Vatsalya: Addresses the protection, care, and welfare of children in difficult circumstances.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi Poshan 2.0:
* Reorganizes Anganwadi Services Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls.
* Consists of three sub-verticals:
* Nutrition Support for POSHAN and Adolescent Girls.
* Early Childhood Care and Education (3-6 years).
* Anganwadi Infrastructure, including upgraded Anganwadis.
Mission Shakti:
* Comprises two verticals: Sambal (safety and security) and Samarthya (empowerment).
* Sambal includes:
* One Stop Centres (OSC) for integrated support to women affected by violence.
* Women Helplines (181-WHL) offering 24/7 emergency and non-emergency response.
* Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) to address declining Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB).
* Nari Adalat, a pilot initiative for alternate dispute resolution.
* Samarthya includes:
* Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) providing cash incentives via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
* Shakti Sadan (formerly Ujjwala and Swadhar Greh) for women in distress.
* Sakhi Niwas (formerly Working Women Hostel) for safe accommodation for working women.
* National Hub for Empowerment of Women (NHEW) for inter-sectoral convergence of schemes.
* Palna (formerly National Creche Scheme) to increase women's participation in the workforce.
Mission Vatsalya:
* Includes the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) for better outreach and protection for children in need.
* Aims to:
* Support children in difficult circumstances.
* Develop context-based solutions for holistic development.
* Encourage innovative solutions.
* Cement convergent action.
Progressive Laws:
* Implemented by the MoWCD:
* The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (SH Act).
* The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005.
* The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
* The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 (amended in 2019).
* The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act, amended in 2021).
Implementation and Monitoring:
* Schemes are Centrally Sponsored, with implementation monitored by State/UT governments.
* The Ministry reviews functioning via meetings, video conferences, and field visits.
* Fund utilization is tracked through Utilization Certificates and Public Financial Management System (PFMS) reports.
Performance Audit:
* NITI Aayog conducted a third-party evaluation in 2020, finding Anganwadi Services satisfactory.
* New strategies under Mission Poshan 2.0 focus on reducing malnutrition.
* Mission Shakti guidelines were modified, including expanding BBBP to all districts.
* An operational manual with a thematic calendar for convergence activities at the district level has been developed.
Impact Analysis:
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the centrally sponsored schemes.
* Action Required: Ensure smooth functioning of schemes, provide Utilization Certificates, and State Nodal Agency (SNA) Reports.
Women and Children:
* Impact: Primary beneficiaries of the welfare schemes aimed at improving nutrition, health, safety, protection, and empowerment.
* Action Required: Utilize available resources and services provided under the various missions and schemes.
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD):
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the schemes and missions.
* Action Required: Conduct periodic reviews, modify guidelines based on evaluations, and ensure convergence activities at the district level.
NITI Aayog:
* Impact: Conducted third-party evaluations of the centrally sponsored schemes.
* Action Required: Continue to provide evaluation reports and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi Poshan 2.0: An umbrella mission aimed at improving nutrition and health indicators in India.
Mission Shakti: An umbrella mission focused on the safety, protection, and empowerment of women.
Mission Vatsalya: An umbrella mission dedicated to the protection, care, and welfare of children in difficult circumstances.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: A scheme launched to address the declining sex ratio at birth and promote the empowerment of girls and women.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India.
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013: An Indian law to prevent and protect women from sexual harassment at the workplace.
National Food Security Act 2013: An Indian Act of Parliament which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3262
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF WELFARE SCHEMES
3262. SHRI S VENKATESAN:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the numerous progressive laws/welfare schemes for women and
children;
(b) whether any gap between policy and ground-level implementation still persist, if so,
the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to conduct a transparent performance audit of
schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken thereon?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) For better implementation and efficient monitoring, all schemes implemented for welfare
of women and children have been clubbed into three Umbrella Missions by the Ministry of
Women & Child Development (MoWCD), viz. (1) Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan
2.0 for improving nutrition & health indicators in the country (2) Mission Shakti, for safety,
protection and empowerment of women; and (3) Mission Vatsalya, for protection, care and
welfare of children in difficult circumstances. Details of the schemes are as under:
(i) Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0): Under this mission,
Anganwadi Services Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent Girls have
been reorganized into 3 primary sub-verticals: (i) Nutrition Support for POSHAN and for
Adolescent Girls (ii) Early Childhood Care and Education [3-6 years] and (iii) Anganwadi
Infrastructure including modern, upgraded Saksham Anganwadis.(ii) Mission Shakti: It comprises of two verticals ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’ for safety,
security and empowerment of women, respectively.
I. Sambal - The following schemes have been included under the Sambal vertical: One
Stop Centres (OSC) - for providing integrated support and assistance to women affected
by violence and those in distress, both in private and public spaces in a convergent and
coordinated manner under one roof; Women Helplines (181-WHL) is a 24 x 7 x 365 toll-
free emergency/non-emergency response system that is integrated with ERSS (112) and
other existing helplines/institutions; Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) - launched with an
aim to address declining Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and related issues of empowerment of
girls and women over a life cycle continuum; Nari Adalat – a pilot initiative aimed at
empowering women by ensuring justice and to offer services such as alternate dispute
resolution, grievance redressal, counselling, evidence-based decision-making, pressure
group tactics, negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation.
II. Samarthya - The following schemes have been included under ‘Samarthya’ vertical:
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) - a Centrally Sponsored Maternity
Benefit Scheme under which cash incentives flow to the beneficiaries in Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) mode for the first child and the second girl child; Ujjwala and Swadhar
Greh (renamed as Shakti Sadan) - an Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for
women in distress situations including trafficked women; Working Women Hostel
(renamed as Sakhi Niwas) - to promote availability of safe and conveniently located
accommodation for working women in urban, semi-urban and also in rural areas where
employment opportunities for women exist; National Hub for Empowerment of Women
(NHEW) - to facilitate intersectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for
women at National level, State/ UT level and district level and National Creche Scheme
(renamed as Palna) that aims to increase the participation of women in work force in the
economy by providing quality crèche facility in safe and secure environment for children.
(iii) Mission Vatsalya: Mission Vatsalya includes the Integrated Child Protection Scheme
(ICPS) for better outreach and protection for children in need and care in a mission mode
with the objective to: (i) Support and sustain Children in difficult circumstances. (ii) Develop
context-based solutions for holistic development of children from varied backgrounds.
(iii)Provide scope for encouraging innovative solutions, (iv) Cement convergent action.
The details of the progressive laws implemented by the Ministry of Women & Child
Development for women and children are as under:
(i) The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and
Redressal) Act 2013 (SH Act)
(ii) The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) 2005
(iii) The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006(iv) The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, as amended in
2019
(v) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 (JJ Act, 2015) as
amended in 2021
(b) All the schemes of the Ministry are Centrally Sponsored Schemes and implementation
& monitoring of these schemes fall under the ambit of State/UT concerned. However,
smooth functioning and proper implementation of the schemes is reviewed periodically
through meetings/video conferences with States/UTs and field visits by officers/ officials of
the Ministry. The utilization of funds is monitored through Utilization Certificates furnished
by the State Government and State Nodal Agency (SNA) Reports available on Public
Financial Management System (PFMS) of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
(c) & (d) Yes Sir. A third party evaluation of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Women
and Child Development Sector including Mission Shakti and Mission Saksham Anganwadi
& POSHAN 2.0 was conducted by NITI Aayog in 2020.
The evaluation found the impact of Anganwadi Services scheme satisfactory. Under
Mission Poshan 2.0, a new strategy has been made for reduction in malnutrition and for
improved health, wellness and immunity through activities like community engagement,
outreach, behavioural change, and advocacy. It focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and
Young Child Feeding Norms, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate
Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce prevalence of
wasting, stunting, anaemia and being underweight. Under this mission, Supplementary
Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant Women, Lactating
Mothers and Adolescent Girls to beat the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition by
adopting a life cycle approach. Supplementary nutrition is provided in accordance with the
nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act 2013.
Based on the evaluation report, the Ministry has modified the guidelines under Mission
Shakti including increasing coverage of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme to all the
districts of the country through multi-sectoral interventions and by encouraging greater
expenditure on activities that have a direct impact like promoting sports among girls, self-
defence camps, awareness about PC-PNDT Act etc. Ministry has also developed an
operational manual which, inter-alia, includes a thematic calendar for suggested
convergence activities at the district level with month wise specific themes for holistic
development and comprehensive empowerment of the Girl Child and to ensure year-round
engagement of girls, their families and communities.
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