Nai Roshni Scheme, Objectives, Eligibility, Importance

Nai Roshni is a central sector scheme that aims to empower minority women in the age group between 18 to 65 years old. This leadership development program will be initiated in collaboration with NGOs and other civil societies nationwide. The scheme is operated by The Ministry of Minority Affairs Government of India. 

Nai Roshni Scheme Overview

The Nai Roshni scheme was launched in 2012-13. The goal of this scheme has been to promote equality among minorities by providing them the skills essential for operating a bank and offices. This also helps grow the economy and eliminate poverty. Empowering minority women would help them get into the workforce and take up leadership roles. The scheme collaborates with the public and private NGOs, societies and offices all over India. The skills covered are health, education, legal rights, social changes and digital skills etc. 

Nai Roshni Scheme Origin 

The status of women in India, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, remains challenging. Discrimination against girls often begins even before birth and extends into unequal access to resources such as food, education, and healthcare.

In rural areas, women frequently bear a dual burden, managing household responsibilities like cooking and childcare while also engaging in agricultural labor. In contrast, men typically focus on income-generating activities. Women from minority communities face additional marginalization, often excluded from decision-making within their families and communities.

Empowering women is essential not only to promote equity but also to combat poverty, foster economic growth, and strengthen civil society. Women and children are the most affected in impoverished households. The Sachar Committee Report underscored the particularly disadvantaged position of Muslim women, highlighting the intersecting challenges faced by India’s largest minority group.

To address these issues, the Ministry of Minority Affairs launched the “Nai Roshni – The Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women” in 2011-12, with implementation beginning in 2012-13. Drawing on the initial experience, the scheme was refined to enhance its reach and effectiveness. The Standing Finance Committee approved its appraisal on March 6, 2013, and it was subsequently implemented during the 12th Five-Year Plan.

The scheme continued under the 14th Finance Commission, spanning the years 2017-18 to 2019-20, with further details outlined in subsequent guidelines. This initiative aims to empower minority women, equipping them with leadership skills to address the systemic challenges they face.

Nai Roshni Scheme Objectives

The objectives of Nai Roshni Scheme are: 

1. The primary goal of scheme is to promote minority women leadership in India. 
2. The scheme stands against gender inequality in Indian Society. 
3. Encourage women to stand for their rights and raise their voice against exploitation. 
4. Help minority women develop skills to become empowered and independent. 
5. Make indian society more inclusive by increasing women participation

Nai Roshni Scheme Eligibility Criteria

Following is the eligibility criteria to be a part of Nai Roshni Scheme: 

1. Labor-Intensive Approach: The scheme’s nurturing and support services, require a labor-intensive approach, involving constant engagement and facilitator availability within target communities.
2. Regular Community Engagement: Implementing organizations are expected to visit villages or localities regularly, offering support to women who have undergone leadership development training to help them apply the tools and techniques effectively.
3. Field-Intensive Activities: These activities are best suited for highly motivated, community-based organizations with relevant experience, skilled personnel, and resources to conduct training within women’s residential areas.
4. Residential Training Capability: Organizations should also be equipped to arrange residential training programs, either at government institutions or their own facilities.
5. Eligible Organizations for Grants-in-Aid:
   1. Registered societies
   2. Public trusts
   3. Nonprofit companies
   4. Recognized universities and institutions of higher learning
   5. Government training institutes
   6. Women’s cooperative societies
   7. State channelizing agencies
   8. NGOs meeting the defined eligibility criteria

This structured approach ensures the effective delivery of the scheme and maximizes its impact within the target communities.

Activities Conducted under Nai Roshni Scheme

Following are some of the activities conducted under the Nai Roshni Scheme: 

1. Leadership Training: Equipping minority women with leadership skills to actively participate in decision-making processes.
2. Life Skills Education: Enhancing self-confidence, communication, and decision-making abilities through life skills training.
3. Rights and Entitlements Awareness: Educating women about their legal rights and government schemes to help them access entitlements and benefits.
4. Financial and Digital Literacy: Promoting economic independence by providing financial management and digital skills training.
5. Community Mobilization: Encouraging active participation and collective action to address shared community challenges.
6. Skill Development: Offering vocational training to improve employability and create income-generating opportunities.
7. Support for Self-Help Groups: Facilitating the formation and strengthening of women’s self-help groups for mutual support and empowerment.
8. Sanitation Awareness: Promoting hygiene and sanitation practices under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiative.
9. Health and Nutrition: Focusing on the health and nutritional well-being of minority women and their families.

Nai Roshni Scheme Importance

The Nai Roshni is a scheme targeting gender equality that makes it an important scheme due to the following reasons: 

• The scheme can help in eradicating poverty, social inclusion and financial development. 
• Nai Roshni Scheme visions to help minority group women come out of the cycle of poverty. 
• The scheme is the route to empower women and take up leadership roles in the workforce.
• Women will be easily able to blend in the service sector and contribute towards creating a better life.