1.57 lakh minority women given leadership training

Nai Roshni is a leadership development scheme for minority women which was started three years ago

The government has imparted training to more than 1.57 lakh women under Nai Roshni, a leadership development scheme for minority women, since its inception three years ago, as informed to the Rajya Sabha today.

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, in response to questions on the number of beneficiaries of the scheme, said a total of 1,57,823 women belonging to minority communities were imparted training.

Naqvi said that in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, the government trained 34,473, 56,175 and 67,175 women, respectively, from six minority communities -- Muslim, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain.

The minister said the programme provides for one-week training (both non-residential and residential), followed by "handholding" for a period of a year.

"The training is provided on various modules covering issues like leadership of women through participation in decision-making, educational programmes for women, health and hygiene, legal rights for women, financial literacy, digital literacy, swachh bharat, life skills and advocacy for social and behavioural change," he added.

Facilitators from scheme-implementing agencies assist women post-training too, during their projects, he said.

Women between the age group of 18 and 65 years are eligible to get trained under the scheme. There is no annual income bar, however, women having an annual income less than Rs 2.5 lakh from all sources are given preferences in selection.

The minister also clarified that aspiring candidates need not apply online for availing benefits under the scheme.