**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1073 regarding the status of the Swadhar Greh Scheme in Assam, to be answered on December 5, 2025. It details the merging of Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala schemes into the Shakti Sadan Scheme and provides information on the scheme's implementation in Assam, including funds released and beneficiaries served. The Programme Approval Board (PAB) approved Assam's proposal for setting up 20 new Government run Shakti Sadans for FY 2025-26.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme Overview:**
* The Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala schemes have been merged into the Shakti Sadan Scheme, an integrated relief and rehabilitation program for women in distress.
* The scheme aims to create a safe environment for women to overcome difficult circumstances.
* **Funding and Implementation:**
* The Shakti Sadan Scheme is a demand-driven, Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
* Funds are released to States/UTs based on their assessed requirements and approval by the Programme Approval Board (PAB).
* The State Government of Assam is onboarded on SNA Sparsh, and the Ministry is releasing funds via the SNA Sparsh module upon receiving a bill on PFMS.
* **Assam-Specific Information:**
* The PAB approved Assam's proposal for setting up 20 new Government run Shakti Sadans for FY 2025-26.
* 26 Shakti Sadans are currently functional in Assam.
* 2,396 women in Assam have benefited from the scheme between FY 2022-23 and FY 2024-25.
* 204 staff members are in position out of a sanctioned strength of 234 across these 26 Shakti Sadans.
* **Funds Released to Assam:**
* FY 2022-23: Rs. 1.39 Cr.
* FY 2023-24: Rs. 18.52 Cr.
* FY 2024-25: Rs. 11.72 Cr.
* Total: Rs. 31.63 Cr.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Assam**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the Shakti Sadan Scheme, assessing needs, proposing new Shakti Sadans, and ensuring the proper utilization of funds. They should ensure that all functional Shakti Sadans are adequately staffed.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement the scheme, utilize released funds effectively, set up the approved 20 new Shakti Sadans, and onboard funds through SNA Sparsh.
**Women in Distress in Assam**
* **Impact:** Direct beneficiaries of the scheme through access to safe shelters, rehabilitation, and support to overcome adverse circumstances.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the services and facilities provided by the Shakti Sadan Scheme to improve their situations.
Key Entities Referenced
Shakti Sadan Scheme: An Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for women in distressful situations, including trafficked women, merged from ‘Swadhar Greh' and ‘Ujjawala' schemes.
Swadhar Greh: A Home for women in difficult circumstances, now merged into the Shakti Sadan Scheme.
Assam: Indian state where the number of Swadhar Grehs (Shelters), women beneficiaries, and funds related to the Shakti Sadan Scheme are being discussed.
Mission Shakti: An overarching scheme under which the ‘Swadhar Greh' and ‘Ujjawala' schemes have been merged to form the Shakti Sadan Scheme.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The government body responsible for overseeing the Shakti Sadan Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1073
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025
STATUS OF SWADHAR GREH SCHEME
1073. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Swadhar Grehs (Shelters) currently sanctioned, operational/non-operational
in Assam;
(b) the number of women beneficiaries rehabilitated under the said Scheme in the said State
during the last three years;
(c) whether any Swadhar Grehs (Shelters) in the said State have reported shortages of staff,
delays in fund release and infrastructure gaps, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of the funds allocated, released/utilised for said scheme in said State during the
last three financial years; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to expand/upgrade said facilities in districts with high
vulnerability indicators such as trafficking, domestic violence or displacement in said State,
if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (e) Under the overarching ‘Mission Shakti’, erstwhile schemes of ‘Swadhar Greh’ – Home
for women in difficult circumstances and ‘Ujjawala’- Home for women rescued from Trafficking,
have been merged and are now known as ‘Shakti Sadan Scheme’, which is an Integrated Relief
and Rehabilitation Home for women in distressful situations including trafficked women. It aims
at creating a safe and enabling environment for the women in such difficult situations, to enable
them to overcome the adverse circumstances.
The Shakti Sadan Scheme is a demand driven Centrally Sponsored Scheme, under which
funds are released to the States/UTs for implementation of the scheme. The States/UTs assess their
requirement as per local needs and proposals are approved every year by the Programme Approval
Board (PAB) after discussion with States/UTs. Under the Scheme, financial assistance is providedfor running of Shakti Sadan in rented premises. The proposal for setting up of 20 New Government
run Shakti Sadans received from the State Government of Assam was approved by the PAB for
FY 2025-26.
As informed by the State Government, 26 Shakti Sadans are currently functional in the
State of Assam, and a total of 2,396 women have benefited during the last three years, i.e. from
FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25. Furthermore, the State Government has informed that, against the
sanctioned strength of 234 staff members, 204 are presently in position across these 26 operational
Shakti Sadans.
The State Govt. of Assam is onboarded on SNA Sparsh and Ministry is releasing funds
Just-in-time to the State Govt. through SNA Sparsh module upon receiving of bill on PFMS from
the State Govt.
Details of funds released to the State Govt. of Assam for the implementation of Shakti
Sadan Scheme are as under:
Financial Year Funds released (Rs. in Cr.)
FY 2022-23 1.39
FY 2023-24 18.52
FY 2024-25 11.72
Total 31.63
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