2 cr. minority women availed benefits, says ministry

Our Reporter
Dimapur, March 8 (EMN): The ministry of Minority Affairs has stated that ‘over two crore women from the minority category benefitted in the past five years and that the ministry had been at the forefront for empowerment of women.’

A report of the Press Information Bureau that was posted on Sunday, March 8 stated that the ministry of Minority Affairs of the central government had been implementing various schemes for socio-economic and educational empowerment of women from the minority communities.

‘The ministry implements the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) earlier known as the multi-sector development programme, a centrally sponsored scheme, in identified minority concentration areas of the country with the objective of developing socio-economic assets and basic amenities in these areas to bring them at par with other parts of the country,” it stated.

The thrust of the PMJVK programme, it stated, is to allocate at least 80% of the resources for education, health and skill development and at least 33-40% of the resources for women centric projects.

In the component for ‘socio-economic-educational empowerment of minority women,’ more than 1.94 crore girl students benefitted during the past five years; about three lakh women have been provided with various leadership developments training in the past five years under the “Nai Roshni” scheme—a leadership development programme–and various other welfare schemes. 4.35 lakh women have been provided with employment-oriented skill development training, it stated.

“Hunar Haats,” described to be a crafts programme, organised by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs in various cities, have 50% reservation for women and offer unique opportunities to young entrepreneurs and aspirants to experiment and explore novel means of creativity coupled with livelihood.

It started at 20%, but over the years it was increased to ensure more women’s participation. There is a large number of women self-help groups associated with the Hunar Haat and 1.35 lakh female artisans have benefitted through Hunar Haats during the past three years, the ministry stated.