The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements two shelter based schemes, namely, Swadhar and Short Stay Home for providing emergency outreach services to women in difficult circumstances who do not have societal/family support or independent means of income. Under these schemes free shelter, food, medical care, counseling etc. are being provided to the beneficiaries. Vocational training is imparted to the beneficiaries with a view to rehabilitate them.

The schemes seek to improve the life of women who are in difficult circumstances thereby making them self reliant by providing vocational training.  The scheme could benefit 35959 women in 2009-10 and 38241 and 40270 women during 2010-11 & 2011-12 respectively. Considering the positive impact of the schemes on the target group, the Ministry has decided to merge both the schemes into “Swadhar Greh” scheme with better financial norms and extend the coverage to all the districts in the country during the 12^th Five Year Plan.

Under these schemes, funds are released directly to the implementing agencies which include State Government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The year-wise funds released under these schemes to the implementing agencies in various States and the number of women benefitted, calculated on the basis of sanctioned capacity of the Homes,  during the last three years are as under:

 This was stated by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister for Women and Child Development in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

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MV