Government Schemes for Women

Women’s empowerment is essential for building an inclusive and progressive society. To support this vision, several government schemes for women in India have been launched to promote equal opportunities in health, education, and employment. These schemes aim to reduce gender disparities and ensure women lead safe, healthy, and financially secure lives.

Various central govt schemes for women focus on maternity benefits, skill development, and social security. Initiatives like PM Yojana for women empower them through healthcare services, financial aid, and insurance.

The introduction of dedicated women empowerment schemes in India helps boost confidence among women and encourages their participation in the nation’s growth. These schemes play an important role in enhancing women’s health and quality of life, especially in rural and underprivileged areas.

With continued government support, women can contribute more actively to economic and social progress.

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The Government of India has launched several welfare programmes for women in India to promote their health, education, and financial security. These central government schemes for women aim to empower them and improve their quality of life. Below is an overview of some prominent women empowerment schemes in India.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a maternity benefit programme that provides financial assistance to pregnant women and lactating mothers for their first living child.

Eligible women are provided a cash benefit of ₹5,000, which is distributed in three separate installments upon meeting specific maternal and child health conditions. This PM Yojana for women aims to compensate for wage loss during childbirth and encourage healthcare during and after pregnancy.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a savings scheme designed to secure the financial future of a girl child. It is one of the top central govt schemes for women, allowing parents or legal guardians to open a savings account in the name of a girl child who is ten years old or younger.

The scheme provides a competitive interest rate along with tax benefits, and allows deposits ranging from ₹250 to ₹1.5 lakh annually. The tenure for account maturity is 21 years or at the girl's marriage after 18 years.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan is one of the popular government schemes for women in India. Pregnant women get quality antenatal support and care on the 9th day of every month.

Services under this scheme are free of cost. They cover routine examinations, laboratory investigations for early detection of high-risk pregnancies and its management. This scheme helps in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY)

Kishori Shakti Yojana is a government initiative launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in India as part of the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) scheme.

The scheme provides assistance for better health, nutrition, and overall development in adolescent girls between the age group of 11 and 18. Through this PM Yojana for women, participants receive life skills training and vocational education. They also get guidance on hygiene, nutrition, and general well-being.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a government scheme in India. This PM Yojana for women helps pregnant women by giving them financial aid for hospital delivery. This support encourages safe births in hospitals.

It mainly helps poor women in rural and urban areas with a goal to reduce mother and baby deaths. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) also get incentives to help women reach health centres.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is also known as Ayushman Bharat. It is the world's largest health assurance scheme. It provides a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The scheme benefits over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families, offering cashless and paperless access to health services.

Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs)

Ayushman Bharat's Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) provide comprehensive primary healthcare services in India. These centres offer preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care.

They also cover maternal and child health services. They help in managing non-communicable diseases, provide free essential medicines and diagnostics. By 2023, over 154,000 AB-HWCs were operational nationwide.

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana is a health insurance programme for families below the poverty line (BPL). It offers cashless insurance for hospitalisation in public and private hospitals, covering up to ₹30,000 per annum for a family of up to five members.

This is one of the popular welfare programmes for women in India. It aims to protect impoverished households from major health shocks that involve hospitalization.

Also Read: Individual Health Insurance

The government of India has launched various women’s empowerment schemes to enhance women's socio-economic status. These government schemes for women in India address challenges in health, education, employment, and protection against violence.

These central government schemes operate through a combination of direct benefit transfers, community engagement, and capacity building.

Implementation Mechanisms of Central Govt Schemes for Women

Policy Framework and Government Bodies

The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements most women empowerment schemes in India. It works with state governments, NGOs, and panchayats to reach rural and urban areas. Other departments like the Ministry of Rural Development, Health, and Education also contribute.

• Policies are framed at the central level.

• States adapt them based on local needs.

• Funds are allocated through Union Budgets.

Role of State Governments and NGOs

State governments play a big role in implementing these welfare programmes for women in India. They allocate funds received from the central government, engage local groups or NGOs for implementation of schemes, and monitor progress regularly. NGOs support awareness drives, enrolment, and grievance redressal. Together, they bring schemes closer to the beneficiaries.

Schemes Are Rolled Out via Local Governance

Most central govt schemes for women are implemented through Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies, and district-level authorities. District Collectors or Women Welfare Officers supervise the execution of such schemes and ensure its outreach to eligible women. Village-level workers or ASHA workers mostly spread awareness among women in rural India. Local NGOs support on-the-ground implementation.

Monitoring and Evaluation Ensure Accountability

Monitoring and evaluation helps in implementing women empowerment schemes in India. Each scheme includes well-defined mechanisms to track progress and assess effectiveness. These involve monthly or quarterly progress reports that help authorities measure outcomes against targets. In many cases, third-party evaluations are conducted to provide unbiased insights into the scheme’s performance.

These PM Yojanas for women address specific needs and challenges faced by women so that they can have holistic development and empowerment.

Central govt schemes for women promote empowerment, safety, and financial independence. However, implementing them can be challenging.

• Lack of Awareness: Many women, especially in rural areas, are unaware of available schemes. Poor outreach limits the intended impact.

• Administrative Delays: Bureaucratic red tape and delays in fund disbursal slow down the implementation process. This discourages participation.

• Poor Infrastructure: In remote areas, lack of digital access and proper facilities hampers smooth scheme execution and follow-up.

• Social Barriers: Patriarchal mindsets and social restrictions stop many women from availing of the benefits, even when eligible.

• Corruption and Mismanagement: In some cases, funds meant for beneficiaries are misused due to corruption at the local level.

• Low Literacy and Digital Divide: Low literacy and limited digital access create challenges in applying for and accessing scheme benefits.

• Monitoring and Evaluation Gaps: Poor tracking mechanisms and lack of timely evaluations weaken the efficiency of schemes.

Women in India can benefit greatly from government welfare programmes, but proper awareness and approach are necessary.

• Stay Informed: Women should regularly check government websites, local panchayat offices, or women’s helplines for scheme updates.

• Seek Guidance: Approaching self-help groups (SHGs), Anganwadi workers, or NGOs can help understand eligibility and application procedures.

• Use Digital Platforms: Government portals like Mahila E-Haat, UMANG, and MyGov offer access to schemes online. Women should learn basic digital skills.

• Apply With Correct Documents: Applicants must keep essential documents like Aadhaar, ration card, and bank account details ready for smooth registration.

• Participate in Community Meetings: Joining local awareness meetings or training camps helps women learn about schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala Yojana, or PMMVY.

• Raise Awareness Among Peers: Women who benefit from schemes should encourage others in their community to apply and support one another.

• Track Benefits Received: Keeping records and tracking benefits through official platforms ensures transparency and accountability.

Making the best use of welfare programmes requires awareness, action, and community support. Women from all strata of society must take the initiative and help one another grow.

Read More: How companies are engaging women on maternity leaves?

Welfare programmes for women in India improve their quality of life. These schemes support education, health, and financial independence. However, to truly safeguard women’s health and well-being, access to a health insurance policy becomes equally important. That is where we step in.

At TATA AIG, we understand how important it is for women to have a reliable health insurance policy. As part of the larger ecosystem supporting women's welfare, our offerings are designed to complement these government schemes. We offer robust health insurance plans that ensure timely care and complete financial protection.

With years of expertise in health insurance in India, we bring trusted solutions for every stage of life. Whether you are a homemaker, a professional, or a mother, we provide the best health insurance policy tailored to your needs. Together with government efforts, we aim to build a healthier, more secure future for every woman in India.

What is the new government scheme for ladies?

The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC), introduced in April 2023, is a small savings scheme for women with a two-year maturity period. Women or guardians of a girl child can open this account with a maximum deposit of ₹2 lakh and earn an interest rate of 7.5% per annum. This interest is credited quarterly and paid at maturity.

What is the girl child 3000 rupees scheme?

The “National Scheme of Incentive for Girls of Secondary Education” deposits ₹3,000 as a fixed deposit on behalf of eligible girl students who have passed class 8 and enrolled in class 9. This PM Yojana for women allows them to withdraw the amount, along with interest, when the girl reaches 18 years of age and passes class 10.

What is the 1 lakh scheme for women?

The Mahalakshmi Scheme, proposed by the Indian National Congress in their 2024 manifesto, aims to provide ₹1 lakh annually to women who belong to poor households as an unconditional cash transfer. The amount is transferred to the bank account of the oldest woman in the household to promote financial independence and dignity.

What is the government scheme for pregnant women?

The Indian government runs various schemes for pregnant women, such as PMMVY (₹5,000 for first-time mothers), Janani Suraksha Yojana (cash aid for institutional deliveries), and PMSMA (free antenatal care on the 9th of every month). These central govt schemes for women aim to improve maternal health, encourage safe deliveries, and provide financial support during pregnancy and childbirth.