Friday, September 7, 2012

Schemes to Financially Help BPL Widows

The Government in the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing through State Governments and UT Administrations the major schemes /programmes namely Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY)/ National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) for providing wage, self employment and houses in rural areas respectively. These schemes have specific provision to provide benefits to rural women including widows to enhance their income and living standard. Besides, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) is also implemented in urban and rural areas for Below Poverty Line (BPL) widows, between the age groups of 40 to 59 years.

Further, the Government implements several schemes/ programmes for the welfare of women, which can also be availed by eligible widows, such as:

(i) Swadhar and Short Stay Homes for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances.

(ii) Support for Training & Employment Programme (STEP) under which skill upgradation training is provided to assetless and below poverty line women.

(iii) Scheme of Working Women Hostel under which assistance is provided for the construction/expansion of hostel building with the objective of providing safe accommodation to single working women who are unmarried, widowed, divorced or separated as well as to the married women whose husband or immediate family does not reside in the same area.

(iv) Integrated Programme for Older Persons under which financial assistance is given to voluntary organizations for running and maintenance of old age homes, mobile medical units etc. for the destitute senior citizens and for setting up of Multi Facility Care Centre for Older Widow Women to provide full time shelter, care, training in income generating activities, conduct of religious programmes, yoga etc. to older widows.

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