November 26, 2001

        The Department of Women and Child Development is launching shortly a major initiative "Swayamsiddha" for empowerment of women in the country. The programme with an outlay of Rs. 116 crore will cover 650 blocks in 35 States and Union Territories. Being launched by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday it will have a multi-dimensional and participatory approach for the development of women. Swayamsiddha is part of the steps being taken in 2001, which has been declared the Year of Women’s Empowerment.

        Under Swayamsiddha, measures will be taken to improve access and control of resources by women through activating self-help groups and enable them take their rightful place as a major stake-holder in the society. The programme will be implemented over a 6-year period through Project Implementing Agencies (PIA) to be identified by the States. The PIA could be a government agency or NGO, which will identify block-level projects incorporating core aspects of self-help groups. At an average 100 self-help groups will be formed at village level with 15 to 20 member in each.