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Women Welfare: From Beti Bachao to Financial Empowerment
Constitutional and Legal Framework
- Article 15(3) — Permits special provisions for women and children; basis for women-specific affirmative action
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 — Civil law providing protection orders, residence orders, and monetary relief
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 — Mandates Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in organizations with 10+ employees
- Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 — Extended maternity leave to 26 weeks (from 12 weeks) for establishments with 10+ employees
Central Women Welfare Schemes in Rajasthan
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP):
- Launched January 22, 2015 by PM Modi from Panipat (Haryana)
- Original 100 districts with low Child Sex Ratio (CSR); expanded to all 640 districts by 2020
- Rajasthan CSR at birth improved from 888 (2012) to 911 (2019-21, NFHS-5); remains below national average of 929
- Nodal ministries: Women and Child Development, Health, Education
- Key interventions: mass media campaigns, community mobilization, incentive schemes for girls' education
One Stop Centre (OSC) / Sakhi Centre:
- 24x7 integrated support for women facing violence — shelter, police assistance, legal aid, medical services, counselling
- 733 OSCs operational nationally (target: one per district); Rajasthan operates OSCs in each district
Mission Shakti:
- Central umbrella mission since 2021 consolidating women safety and empowerment schemes
- Two sub-missions: Sambal (protection) and Samarthya (empowerment)
- Sambal includes: One Stop Centre, Women Helpline (181), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Adalat
- Samarthya includes: Ujjwala (rescue/rehabilitation), Swadhar Greh (shelter for homeless women), Mahila Shakti Kendra (rural women), Working Women Hostel
PM POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme):
- Free cooked meals to all children in Classes 1–8 in government and government-aided schools
- Rajasthan: 10.22 lakh students benefited annually (pre-2024 data)
- Reduces classroom hunger and female student dropout
Rajasthan-Specific Women Schemes
Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana:
- Launched: June 2016
- Beneficiary: Every girl born on/after June 1, 2016 in a government/Rajasthan State Health Insurance Scheme empanelled hospital
- Total benefit: ₹50,000 across 6 instalments:
- ₹2,500 at birth (hospital discharge)
- ₹2,500 at age 1 (after vaccination)
- ₹4,000 on Class 1 admission
- ₹5,000 on Class 6 admission
- ₹11,000 on Class 10 admission
- ₹25,000 on Class 12 pass
- Condition: girl must be studying in government school from Class 6 onwards
- Objective: combat female foeticide and ensure school retention through Class 12
Lado Protsahan Yojana:
- Launched: 1 August 2024 (current Bhajanlal Sharma government)
- Total benefit: ₹1,50,000 in 7 instalments:
- ₹5,000 at birth | ₹5,000 at age 1 | ₹10,000 Class 1 | ₹15,000 Class 6 | ₹20,000 Class 10 | ₹25,000 Class 12 | ₹70,000 at age 21 (on graduation)
- Eligibility: Girls born in Rajasthan government/approved hospitals; EWS families
- Administered through PCTS (Pregnancy Child Tracking System) portal
- Achievement: ₹7.50 crore disbursed to 30,000 girls on Rajasthan Diwas (30 March 2025)
Note: Lado Protsahan Yojana (2024) complements but does not replace Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana (2016); Rajshri remains operational.
Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Udyam Protsahan Yojana (MNSUPY):
- Loans up to ₹50 lakh for individual women entrepreneurs; up to ₹1 crore for SHG clusters/federations (enhanced in Budget 2026-27)
- Subsidy: 25% of loan amount; 30% for SC/ST/OBC/Divyang women
- Extended till FY 2028-29; ₹150 crore already sanctioned through 1,186 applications
- Complemented by ₹100 crore Rural Women BPO initiative; Raj Sakhi Stores at divisional headquarters for SHG product marketing
- Lakhpati Didi ceiling raised to ₹1.5 lakh
Gargi Puraskar and Balika Protsahan:
- Gargi Award: 1,87,612 girls awarded cash prizes for scoring 75%+ in Class 10 Board examination (Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26)
- Balika Protsahan: 1,52,316 girls benefited (Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26)
Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana (IGMPY):
- Rajasthan-specific maternity benefit scheme providing ₹6,000 in 5 instalments for second-born child
- Complements the national Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which provides ₹5,000 for the first child
Rajasthan Diwas 2025 Women Package (30 March 2025):
CM Bhajanlal Sharma transferred ₹375 crore to women's accounts covering:
- Lado Protsahan Yojana: ₹7.50 crore to 30,000 girls
- Women's SHG Funding: ₹100 crore
- Kali Bai Bhil Scooty: 5,000 girl students
- LPG subsidy: ₹200 crore to 1.10 crore families
- Gargi Award: ₹13.16 crore to 31,790 girls
RSRTC Concessions for Women:
- Women's fare concession increased from 30% to 50% on Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation buses
- Free travel on special occasions: 6,04,338 women on Women's Day; 7,47,976 on Raksha Bandhan (Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26)
