Under Article 15(3), the Constitution of India allows for positive discrimination in favour of women.
The article, under right to equality, states: “Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children.”
In addition, the directive principles of State Policy 39(a) state that: “The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood.”
The Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (National Credit Fund for Women) was set up in 1993 to make credit available for lower income women in India. More recent programmes initiated by the Government of India include the Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS), the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana Conditional Maternity Benefit plan (CMB), and the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls – Sabla.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
- One Stop Centre Scheme
- Women Helpline Scheme
- UJJAWALA: A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation
- Working Women Hostel
- Ministry approves new projects under Ujjawala Scheme and continues existing projects
- SWADHAR Greh (A Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances)
- NARI SHAKTI PURASKAR
- Awardees of Stree Shakti Puruskar, 2014 & Awardees of Nari Shakti Puruskar
- Awardees of Rajya Mahila Samman & Zila Mahila Samman
- Mahila police Volunteers
- Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK)
- NIRBHAYA
List of Women Welfare Scheme in India
| Schemes | Launching Year | Aim | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rashtriya Mahila Kosh | 1993 | To provide lower income women with access to loans to begin small businesses | Women |
| SWADHAR Greh | 2002 | To provide to the essential need of shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment and care of the women in trouble and who are deficient with regards to social and monetary support. | Women |
| The Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana Conditional Maternity Benefit plan (CMB) | 2010 | It provides money to help ensure the good health and nutrition of the recipients. As of March 2013the programme is being offered in 53 districts around the country. | Pregnant and lactating women age 19 and over for their first two live births. |
| Priyadarshini | 2011 | It offers women in seven districts access to self-help groups. | Women |
| Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls – Sabla | 2012 | It offers a variety of services to help young women become self-reliant, including nutritional supplementation and education, health education and services, and life skills and vocational training | adolescent girls. |
| One Stop Centre | 2015 | To provide integrated support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces in phased manner. | Women |
