New Govt Schemes for Minority Women

In view of the poor soci-economic status of Muslim women the government is finalizing a scheme for leadership training and skill development aimed at tackling the double discrimination faced by them. The Women and Child development Ministry's scheme will reach out to minority women so that they can move out of the confines of their home and community and assume leadership roles accessing facilities that will improve their lives and livelihoods. In the first phase the scheme called the Leadership Development for Life ,Livelihood and Civil Empowerment of Minority women will be launched in five states with a large minority population.It is expected to reach 35000 to 50000 women directly and many more indirectly. Government agencies will give them training,inputs and information so that they gain confidence to interact with the government system.Initially the scheme would be implemented through NGOs to encourage the sector to take up work with this marginalized community.The literacy rate among Muslim women is worse than women from other religious groups.Only 50% of Muslim women are literate.The female work participation rate among Muslims is a bare 14% against 27.5% for Hindus.The WCD ministry is also working on a proposal to provide training for women belonging to vulnerable sections for competitive exams especially IAS,IPS and IFS.