Author: Nivedita Kori, Hidayatullah National Law University
TO THE POINT
The Mahatari Vandan Yojana is a welfare scheme initiated by the Chhattisgarh government to provide financial assistance (monthly) to the marries women (especially from rural and marginalized section). It is a great chance for women to look up for equality and equal treatment that they deserved. This scheme has been a great step towards women empowerment and making women independent. With all such positive goals and objectives of the scheme it also faces some challenges such as complicated documentation, delayed system management, which makes it difficult to reach to the targeted person. As part of India’s welfare policy, this article examines the scheme’s legal base, the government’s incentives and its impacts on the economy and society.
USE OF LEGAL JARGON
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) – A method through which the government subsidies or welfare payments could be directly transferred to the bank account of the beneficiaries. The scheme operates through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to provide digital fund transfers that safeguard against both delay and mismanagement problems.
Financial Inclusion – It is a great step towards the upliftment of the underprivileged groups by ensuring that they are easily able to access the financial services like banking, insurance and credit.
Welfare State – It is a concept where the government plays an important and integral role in protecting and promoting the social and economic interest and well-being of its citizens.
Gender Equity – It refers to the impartial treatment of men and women according to their individual needs and situation.
Public Policy – There exists various definitions of public policy. According to Thomas R. Dye Public Policy is “Whatever government choose to do or not to do” and it helps to regulate conflict in the society and maintain peace.
Social Justice – It ensures that resources, opportunities and privileges are equally and fairly distributed within a society.
THE PROOF
Article 15(3) – Under this article the state is empowered to make specials laws for children and women (for uplifting them).
Article 39(e)(f)- It mandates the state to safeguard women’s health and strength and to foster the safety and welfare of children and mothers.
National Policy for Women (2016)- The major focus of the policy was socio-economic development of women through direct welfare schemes.
RBI Financial Inclusion Guidelines- It corresponds with the goal of integrating women of rural area into financial banking system.
Digital India Initiative – It helps in providing support to the effective execution of Direct Benefit Transfer System for accountability and transparency.
ABSTRACT
The Mahatari Vandan Yojana, a welfare policy of Chhattisgarh that focuses on gender neutrality and inclusivity. It has ben made especially for rural and marginalized women. It aims at providing financial assistance to the women from marginalized sections and to empower them in the decision-making taking place at their households and also to reduce their dependency on others. The DBT System brought a massive change through which the scheme has gained acknowledgement. The system has brought transparency, economic independence and financial inclusion among the women from marginalized sections.
Through this scheme, the efforts of the government to bring up equality and support women can be seen clearly. How ever with such great goals there do exists some loopholes too. Challenges such as too much delay, complicate paper work and documentations and the financial pressure on the state, which makes it difficult to reach to the targeted person.
FRAMEWORK OF THE POLICY
The main purpose of the Mahatari Vandan Yojana serves to distribute financial benefits to qualified married women in Chhattisgarh. Under this scheme:
Beneficiaries receive financial aid in the form of a monthly payment directly from the program.
The government supports the scheme with entire funding to guarantee women’s financial autonomy.
Financial assistance through this scheme functions specifically to benefit underprivileged as well as poor female members of society.
CASE LAWS
Air India Vs Nargesh Meerza
In this case the court discarded the gender-discriminatory regulations relating to jobs and work field and has supported gender-neutral policy frameworks.
Maneka Gandhi Vs Union of India
Judiciary in this case has expanded the scope of Article21 (Right to Life). It further includes the right of an individual to live with dignity, which supports and encourages welfare schemes which could enhance women’s autonomy and independence.
CONCLUSION
The Mahatari Vandan Yojana serves as a critical program that works to boost female financial stability alongside empowerment throughout Chhattisgarh. Through financial aid distribution the scheme assists women to overcome economic hardships which leads to better economic stability for marginalized women. The program enhances gender equality because it gives women access to independent funding that lets them engage in more substantial participation in home and societal choices.
The scheme delivers short-term economic benefits but requires additional long-lasting policies to establish lasting effects. The integration of employment opportunities and financial literacy courses along with entrepreneurship support will transform women into self-sustainable members of society who receive assistance while developing independence. The government needs to combine vocational training and direct cash payments because this combination enables women to build secure ways to generate income and minimize their dependence on social programs.
Future policies need to prioritize financial inclusion with sustainable action and well-organized economic transformation in order to maximize the lasting social and economic outcomes of the Mahatari Vandan Yojana. The scheme’s success depends on strengthened implementation systems combined with efficient fund distribution which will convert support funds into empowerment for women across Chhattisgarh’s communities.
FAQS
Q1. Who all are eligible for accessing the benefit of this scheme?
Ans- Married women especially from the marginalized and rural area and who are permanent residents of Chhattisgarh are eligible for accessing the benefit of the scheme.
Q2. Name the system through which the financial assistance has been circulated.
Ans- Direct Benefit System is a method through which the government subsidies or welfare payments could be directly transferred to the bank account of the beneficiaries. The scheme operates through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to provide digital fund transfers that safeguard against both delay and mismanagement problems.
Q3. What are the loopholes in this scheme?
Ans- There do exist some challenges in the implementation of the scheme such as delayed management, complicated documentations and the risk of fund diversion or misallocation, etc.
Q4. Suggest some reforms to further improve the effectiveness of the scheme.
Ans- Enhancing grievance redressal and monitoring procedures, integrating financial education programs and expanding coverage to windows and single mothers too.
Q5. What is the major goal or objective of the scheme?
Ans- The major objectives of the scheme are to promote independence of women and women empowerment and provide monthly financial assistance to them.