Govt schemes for women: Full list of government schemes offering incentives for women

Here’s the full list of schemes offering incentives for women in India:

Tamil Nadu (Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam): In Tamil Nadu, under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, women with an annual family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh and owning less than five acres of wetland and 10 acres of dry land, and consuming less than 3,600 units of power, receive Rs 1,000 monthly.

To be eligible for the scheme, a woman should be aged above 21 years and have an annual family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh and own less than five acres of wetland and 10 acres of dry land.

Additionally, her household’s yearly domestic power consumption should be less than 3,600 units. Each family can nominate one woman member on the ration card for the benefit.

Andhra Pradesh (Jagananna Ammavodi Scheme):

In order to ensure that poverty of the parents does not come in the way of educating their children, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a unique and innovative scheme “Jagananna Ammavodi” in January, 2020.

Under “Jagananna Ammavodi”, Rs. 15,000 per annum is given to poor and needy mothers or recognized guardian who belong to below poverty line household, irrespective of number of children of that family studying from class I to XII in all recognized Government, Private Aided and Private Unaided schools/Jr. Colleges including Residential Schools/ Jr.Colleges in the State.

Assam (Orunodoi Scheme):
Through Orunodoi — announced in the 2020-21 Budget — a monthly assistance of Rs 830 is transferred to women members of marginalised families of Assam. On account of being a DBT, or a Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, the money is credited directly to the bank account of the woman head of a family because they are “primary caretakers of the household”.

The applicant, a woman, has to be a permanent resident of Assam, whose composite household income should be less than Rs 2 lakh per annum. Families with specially-abled members and divorced/widowed/separated /unmarried women are prioritised. Poorer families, those without National Food Security Act (NFSA) or ration cards, are also given priority.

Himachal Pradesh (Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana):
The Congress government will be giving Rs 1500 per month to women from 18- 60 years of age in the state, fulfilling one of the 10 ‘guarantees’ promised by the Congress ahead of the assembly polls. There will be an annual expenditure of more than Rs 800 crore under this scheme and about five lakh women will be benefited. Under Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana, the government will soon start the process of filling out the form so that they can avail the benefits of this scheme soon.

Karnataka (Gruha Lakshmi scheme):
The Karnataka Government provides financial assistance of Rs.2,000 every month to eligible women. The government disbursed the Rs.2,000 amount through DBT from 30 August 2023.

• The women should belong to Antyodaya, BPL and APL families
• The women identified as the head of a family in the Antyodaya, BPL and APL ration cards issued by the Government will receive the benefit. Women can make changes in ration cards and make them the head of the family to be eligible under this scheme.
• Only one woman in a family will get the scheme’s benefits.
• Women government employees are not eligible to get the scheme’s benefits.

Madhya Pradesh (Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana):
Under the scheme, women in 23-60 age group will be given Rs 1,000 per month subject to certain conditions, including that they are not income tax payees and their families’ annual income is below Rs 2.5 lakh.

Rajasthan (Lakhpati Didi Scheme):
The Lakhpati Didi Scheme is well known among people after its launch because it offers loans to women. Monthly camps are set up in the neighbourhood areas to present loans to eligible women, especially the ones who have less income. A mortgage of Rs. 5 lakhs is ready for every eligible girl under this scheme.

In this way, Lakhpati Didi Yojana ensures the economic growth of women. Training is a strong pillar of the Lakhpati Didi Scheme, ensuring ladies are ready to step into the commercial business.

Many training periods are held to give women the capabilities needed to make the ability people need. Training is also supplied to women at the district and local levels and ensures that such initiatives are applied properly.

Telangana (Mahalakshmi scheme):
The Mahalakshmi scheme, which offers women and transgender persons free travel on state-run non-AC buses, has breathed fresh life into an ailing Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), as numbers show an increased occupancy in buses, resulting in a considerable rise in daily revenue.

The Mahalakshmi scheme, which was the Congress’s election promise, was implemented on December 9, 2023, after new members met at the Assembly for the first time and took their oath of office. One of the six big promises, the scheme has two more components—financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to eligible women and an LPG cylinder at Rs 500—which are being worked out.

West Bengal (Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme):

Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is a flagship program launched by the West Bengal Government in February 2021, to provide financial assistance to women from economically weaker sections of society, for the empowerment of women in the age group of 25-60 years and enrolled in ‘Swasthya Sathi’ provides ₹ 1000/- every month to women from SC/ST households and ₹ 500/- per month from others.

Over 1.5 crore applications were received and processed. The scheme aims to empower women and make them financially independent by providing them with a one-time grant to buy essential goods and services.

The scheme also received the Skoch award. SKOCH Awards, instituted in 2003, aims to recognise people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a better nation.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Centrally Sponsored Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, for implementation across the country with effect from 01.01.2017.

The maternity benefit under PMMVY is available to all Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM), excluding PW&LM who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force, for first living child of family.

Under the scheme Rs.5,000/- are provided to the eligible beneficiary in three installments during pregnancy and lactation in response to individual fulfilling certain nutrition and health seeking conditions.

The eligible beneficiary also receives the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman gets Rs.6,000/-.

These programs, spearheaded by both national and state governments, hinge on conditional cash transfers. Families that ensure girls are registered at birth, receive childhood vaccinations, stay enrolled in school, and delay marriage until after 18 years old, are eligible for these monetary rewards.

Written by Nandika Mishra (She is an intern with indianexpress.com)