STEP scheme benefits over 24,000 women this fiscal

Government's STEP scheme, aimed at providing employability skills to women, has covered over 24,000 beneficiaries so far in the current fiscal, Lok Sabha was informed today.
The Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP) was being implemented as per guidelines formulated, Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said during Question Hour.
However, she said the Ministry did not maintain records of how many of the beneficiaries of the scheme had secured jobs, though she acknowledged that having such information would be important to understand the scheme's effectiveness.
"As regards the number of beneficiaries who secured jobs during each of the last three years and the current year under this scheme is concerned, this Ministry does not maintain such data," Gandhi said.

She said the scheme has covered 24,037 beneficiaries till February 20 of the current financial year.
During 2013-14 period, 31,478 beneficiaries were covered while the number stood at 30,481 in the 2012-13 fiscal.

STEP scheme aims to provide employability skills to women as well as provide competencies to enable them to become self-employed.
Assistance under the scheme would be available in any sector, including agriculture, horticulture, food processing, handlooms and tailoring.
Financial assistance to meet up to 90 per cent of the project cost is sanctioned by the government and the remaining portion borne by the implementing agencies.