The Centre is planning to implement a central livelihood scheme in the mid-Gangetic plains for empowerment of women from vulnerable sections.
The implementation of the programme, which would be of eight years duration, will be through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), officials in the Ministry of Women and Child Development said.
It will also be assisted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
To begin with, the scheme 'Priyadarshini' will be implemented in select districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
"The objective of this project is to empower in a holistic and sustainable manner vulnerable groups of women to enable them to address their social, political, legal, health and economic problems," Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath said.
On the ICDS scheme being run across the country, Tirath said the government has modified the sharing pattern of ICDS Scheme between the Centre and the states.
The sharing pattern of supplementary nutrition in respect of northeastern states between Centre and states will be changed from 50:50 to 90:10 ratio from 2009-10.
So far as other states and UTs are concerned, the existing sharing pattern of 50:50 will continue. However, for all other components of ICDS scheme, the ratio has been modified to 90:10 as against 100 per cent Central assistance given earlier.
The ministry has the overall responsibility of monitoring the ICDS scheme, using its extensive network for gathering community level information on implementation.
A Central cell established in the ministry collects and analyses the periodic work reports. The existing Management Information System ensures a regular flow of information and feedback between each Anganwadi and the project, between each project and the state government, and between the state government and the Centre.
Tirath also added that her ministry runs two schemes for providing shelters to widows deserted by their families near religious places, women prisoners released from jail and without family support, women survivors of natural disasters and trafficked women and girls.
The schemes, namely 'Swadhar' and 'Short Stay Homes' provide shelter to 43,768 women inmates in these homes across the country.
