What are Vulnerable Sections?
Vulnerable sections are groups that face a higher risk of poverty, discrimination, exploitation, social exclusion or deprivation due to economic, social, physical, demographic or other disadvantages, and therefore require additional protection, support and affirmative measures from the State.
Major Vulnerable Sections in India
· Women, Children, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, Minorities, Transgender Persons, Migrants, Informal Workers, Homeless Persons and Destitute Persons.
Welfare Schemes for Women
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
· The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit scheme launched nationwide in 2017 under the National Food Security Act, 2013 to provide financial support to pregnant and lactating women and compensate them partially for wage loss. It is now a component of Mission Shakti – Samarthya.
o Financial Assistance: Eligible women receive ₹5,000 for the first child in two instalments, while ₹6,000 is provided for the second child if the second child is a girl.
o Mode of Payment: The benefit is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank or post-office account through DBT.
o Objective: The scheme aims to partially compensate wage loss and promote health-seeking behaviour, maternal health and child nutrition.
Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP)
· The Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) was designed to provide women with skills, training and employment-oriented support so that they can obtain sustainable livelihoods and become economically independent.
o Objective: The programme focuses on improving women’s skills, employability and income-generating capacity.
o Target Group: It particularly seeks to benefit poor, assetless and marginalised women by providing access to skills and employment opportunities.
o Key Areas: Training has covered sectors such as agriculture, food processing, handlooms, handicrafts, tailoring, embroidery, hospitality and other traditional occupations.
· Note: STEP was an earlier women-oriented scheme and should be distinguished from the current Mission Shakti framework.
Swadhar Greh
· Swadhar Greh was introduced to provide institutional support to women in difficult circumstances, including women who were destitute, homeless or victims of violence and exploitation.
o Services: It provided shelter, food, clothing, counselling, healthcare, legal assistance, vocational training and rehabilitation.
o Objective: The scheme aimed to help women regain dignity, economic independence and social reintegration.
o Current Status: Swadhar Greh has been merged with Ujjawala Homes under Mission Shakti’s Shakti Sadan component.
o Additional Support: Under the present Shakti Sadan framework, residents can receive shelter, food, clothing, counselling, primary healthcare, vocational training and assistance in opening bank accounts.
Ujjawala Scheme
· The Ujjawala Scheme was introduced to address the problem of trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation.
o Objective: It focuses on prevention of trafficking, rescue of victims, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of cross-border victims.
o Institutional Support: Ujjawala Homes provided long-term shelter and rehabilitation to rescued victims.
o Capacity: Under the earlier scheme, a Ujjawala Home could accommodate up to 50 women.
o Current Status: Ujjawala has been merged with Swadhar Greh into Shakti Sadan under Mission Shakti, creating an integrated framework for women facing distress, destitution and trafficking.
Sakhi Niwas – Working Women Hostel
· The Sakhi Niwas Scheme, earlier known as the Working Women Hostel Scheme, provides safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women in urban, semi-urban and rural areas where employment opportunities exist. It is now a component of Mission Shakti – Samarthya.
o Target Group: It covers single, widowed, divorced, separated and eligible married working women, as well as women undergoing job training.
o Income Ceiling: Eligibility generally applies where gross monthly income does not exceed ₹50,000 in metropolitan cities and ₹35,000 in other areas.
o Childcare: The scheme includes provision for a Day Care Centre for children of hostel residents.
o Duration: A resident is generally allowed to stay for up to three years, with exceptional extensions possible subject to prescribed conditions.
Udyam Sakhi Portal
· The Udyam Sakhi Portal was developed to facilitate women’s entrepreneurship by providing information and guidance regarding enterprise creation, training, finance and business opportunities.
o Objective: It seeks to help women move from employment seekers to entrepreneurs and job creators.
o Key Support: The platform provides information related to business planning, skill development, financing and enterprise opportunities.
o Significance: It promotes women-led development, financial independence and entrepreneurship.
Stand-Up India
· Stand-Up India facilitates institutional credit for women and SC/ST entrepreneurs to establish greenfield enterprises.
o Loan Amount: Bank loans are available from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for eligible greenfield enterprises.
o Target Group: The scheme covers SC/ST borrowers and women entrepreneurs.
o Objective: It aims to promote entrepreneurship, employment generation and economic empowerment among traditionally underrepresented groups.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
· Beti Bachao Beti Padhao was launched to address gender-biased sex selection and discrimination against the girl child and to promote her survival, protection, education and development.
o Objective: Aimed at addressing the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and promoting the education of the girl child.
o Important Point: BBBP does not provide a direct cash transfer or DBT to beneficiaries; its focus is behavioural and social change.
One Stop Centre – Sakhi
· The One Stop Centre Scheme provides integrated support to women affected by violence and distress under one roof.
o Services: It provides access to medical assistance, legal aid, psychological counselling, police assistance and temporary shelter.
o Objective: Provides support services for women affected by violence, offering shelter, legal aid, and psychological counselling.
o Current Framework: One Stop Centres are a component of Mission Shakti – Sambal.
PM Ujjwala Yojana
· The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) provides LPG connections to eligible households, with the objective of reducing dependence on traditional solid fuels.
o Objective: It seeks to reduce indoor air pollution, health risks and drudgery associated with traditional cooking fuels, particularly for women.
o Women-Centric Impact: Access to clean cooking fuel can reduce the time spent collecting firewood and exposure to household air pollution.
Mission Shakti
· Mission Shakti is an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development aimed at strengthening women’s safety, security and empowerment through a life-cycle approach.
o Two Components: Mission Shakti has two sub-schemes—Sambal for women’s safety and security, and Samarthya for women’s empowerment.
o Sambal: It includes One Stop Centres, Women Helplines, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalats.
o Samarthya: It includes Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, PMMVY, Palna and SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women.
o Approach: The scheme emphasises convergence, last-mile delivery, Panchayat participation, digital infrastructure and citizen ownership.
The evolution of women’s welfare schemes demonstrates a broader policy transition, This is particularly useful for linking schemes with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), inclusive growth, demographic dividend and participatory governance.
FAQs
1. What are vulnerable sections?
Ans: Vulnerable sections are groups that face a higher risk of poverty, discrimination, exploitation, social exclusion or deprivation and therefore require additional support and protection.
2. Which are the major vulnerable sections in India?
Ans: Major vulnerable sections include women, children, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, transgender persons, migrants, informal workers, homeless and destitute persons.
3. Why do vulnerable sections require special government support?
Ans: They often face structural disadvantages and limited access to resources and opportunities, making additional social protection and affirmative measures necessary.
4. What are the major challenges faced by vulnerable sections?
Ans: Major challenges include poverty, social discrimination, unemployment, lack of access to education and healthcare, exploitation, social exclusion and inadequate social security.
5. What should be the approach towards vulnerable sections?
Ans: The approach should move from welfare and protection towards empowerment, with emphasis on equal opportunities, social security, capability building, dignity and inclusive development.
