Central Ministries: Women

Central Legal Support

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) →

Offers free legal aid to women for various issues including matrimonial disputes, domestic violence, and maintenance.

Key Schemes:

NALSA Focused Schemes (Women)

Includes legal aid schemes for marginalized groups such as victims of trafficking, acid attack survivors, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

✅ Benefits:

  • Free legal counsel for matrimonial and criminal cases.
  • Assistance in filing complaints under Domestic Violence Act.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • All women.
  • No income limit applies.
View Official Link →
Ministry of Women & Child Development (Mission Shakti) →

Manages Mission Shakti, which is the umbrella scheme for women's safety, security, and empowerment, and includes child-focused schemes.

Key Schemes:

Mission Shakti (Sambal & Samarthya)

The umbrella program with **Sambal** (One Stop Centres, Women Helpline) focusing on safety, and **Samarthya** (PMMVY, Swadhar Greh) focusing on empowerment and livelihood.

✅ Benefits:

  • Integrated support services, including police, medical, legal, and psycho-social counseling (One Stop Centres).
  • Institutional support (Swadhar Greh) and shelter.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • All women affected by violence, irrespective of caste, creed, class, education status, marital status, or age.
View Official Link →

Maternity Benefit Programme (PMMVY)

Provides cash benefit of **₹5,000** for the first live birth (and second if a girl child) to pregnant and lactating mothers.

✅ Benefits:

  • Cash benefit of ₹5,000 in three installments.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Pregnant and Lactating Mothers for the first live birth (and second if a girl child).
  • Must meet income criteria and not be employed by Central/State Govt.
View Official Link →

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

Provides a free LPG connection with a government financial support of **₹1,600** to BPL women to ensure clean cooking fuel access.

✅ Benefits:

  • Free LPG connection (financial support of ₹1,600).

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Woman applicant aged 18 years or above.
  • Belonging to a BPL household.
  • No other LPG connection in the household.
View Official Link →

NSIGSE (for Girls)

Provides an incentive of **₹3,000** as a fixed deposit to unmarried girls for enrolling in Class IX, redeemable after passing Class X.

✅ Benefits:

  • Incentive of ₹3,000 fixed deposit.

📝 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Unmarried girls from BPL family (General) or all SC/ST girls.
  • Must enroll in Class IX and be below 16 years of age.
View Official Link →