New Delhi: The Odisha government has not approved the implementation of the Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme (MSKS), launched by the Centre to empower rural women through community participation, says the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Minister of State for Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar said the approval for implementation of the Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme is pending in Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and eight other states and two Union Territories.
“The state governments were requested several times to speed up the matter through video conferencing and letters. The latest video conference was held December 11-12 and Chief Secretaries of the states were requested to approve the scheme via a letter dated November 26,” said Virendra Kumar.
He also said that Rs 737.95 lakh was released by the Centre to Odisha under the Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme in 2018-19.
The Centre approved implementation of the Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
The scheme is implemented through state governments/UT administrations under the cost sharing ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and state except in the North East and Special Category States where the funding ratio is 90:10.
This info was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development while replying to a question in the Lok Sabha.
PNN