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Created: 19 March 2015

NEW DELHI:  An amont of Rs. 702 lakhs was released under the Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) to organizations in the year 2013-14. The amount released in the current year (upto 28/02/2015) is Rs. 439 lakhs under the STEP Scheme. A total of 31478 beneficiaries were covered under the scheme in the year 2013-14. The total of 24,037 beneficiaries have been covered in the current year (upto 28/02/2015).

 

For economic empowerment of poor women across the country including the rural areas, Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched a revised STEP Scheme Guidelines-2014 to provide updated skills and new knowledge to poor women of the age group of 16 years and above. The assistance under the STEP scheme will be available in any sector for imparting skills related to employability and entrepreneurship, including but not limited to the “Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Processing, Handlooms, Tailoring, Stitching, Embroidery, Zari etc, Handicrafts, Computer& IT enabled services along with soft skills and skills for the work place such as spoken English, Gems & Jewellery, Travel & Tourism, Hospitality”.

 

The National Institute of Administrative Research (NIAR), Mussorrie evaluated the STEP Scheme for the 11thFive Year Plan period. The main findings are: ·The scheme has achieved main objectives of providing livelihoods and enhancing the income of women. ·It has succeeded in mobilizing women into groups.

 

·The enhanced income has contributed to women beneficiaries having a stronger voice in decision making both within the family and also society which is a very significant move towards empowerment. This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.