Swadhar Greh

Swadhar Greh scheme envisages a supportive institutional framework for women from low-income family backgrounds to improvize their living conditions. The scheme ensures the provision of shelter, food, clothing, health and economic and social security to women. In addition to this, the scheme renders special needs to women, and proper care is taken to make sure that there are no women left unattended or abandoned, leading to exploitation and desolation. Let us have a closer look at the various features of the scheme in this article.

Objectives

Swadhar Greh is set up in every district with a capacity of thirty women and works with the following objectives:

To provide basic amenities like food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment to women in distress and who are without any social and economic assistance.
To provide them with legal assistance and enable them in taking initiatives for their readjustment in family/society.
To rehabilitate them economically and emotionally.
To act as a support system as per their requirement.
To enable them to have a lifestyle with dignity and conviction.

In places with a population of more than 40 lakh or districts where there is a requirement for additional support to women, supplemental Swadhar Greh would be established. The capacity of each Swadhar Field would be expanded up to 50 or 100 depending on the need assessment and other specifications.

Beneficiaries

The following list of Women are eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme (Women should be aged above 18):

Women who are deserted without any economic and social support.
Women survivors of natural calamities who have been left homeless without any financial assistance.
Women prisoners who are released from prisons and are left without a family.
Women who are victims of family tension, domestic violence or discord, and who are having no special protection from exploitation and facing litigation of marital disputes.
Trafficked women/girls rescued or run away from brothels, places where women are exploited and women affected by AIDS/HIV who do not have social and economic support. However, these women have to first seek assistance under Ujjwala scheme.

Those women affected by domestic violence can stay up to one year, whereas other women can stay up to three years. Older women above 55 years of age can be accommodated for five years, after which they would be shifted to nursing homes or similar institutions. These facilities can also be availed by children who are accompanying women in the above categories. Boys up to 8 years and Girls up to 18 years of age are permitted to stay in Swadhar Greh with their mothers.

Implementing Agencies

The below-listed agencies/organizations that can seek assistance under the scheme:

State Government agencies, including Women Development Corporations that are established by the State Governments.
Central or State autonomous bodies.
Municipal Bodies.
Cantonment Boards.
Panchayat Raj Institutions and Co-operative Institutions.
Departments of Social Welfare of the State Governments/Women and Child Development that constructs Swarhar Greh and manages it on their own or leases them to an organization.
Public trusts that are registered under any law.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), which includes NGOs that has a track record of working in fields for women's welfare/social welfare/women's education that has to be registered under Indian Societies Registered Act, 1860 or any relevant State Act.

Eligibility Standards

Every Public Trusts and CSOs have to meet the following requirements.

It has to be either recognized by the State/UT Administration as per the requirements of the scheme/law or has to be well known with the experience of working in the field for an at least three years, and the work report has to satisfy the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration.
It has to be engaged in the field of women's welfare/social welfare/women's education for a minimum of two years before requesting the grant-in-aid.
It should have facilities, resources, personnel and experience to tackle the management of the project.
Its financial fundings have to meet the expenditure for a few months if there is a delay in the grant.
It has to manage Swadhar Greh on a not-for-profit basis.
The organization should be facilitated with computers, internet connection etc. at Swadhar Greh.

Components of the Scheme

Construction grant for construction of the building is admissible to State Governments, Municipal Corporations, Cantonment Boards and Panchayat Raj Institutions. The implementing agency allocates land for this purpose without charging any cost. The grant is subjected to a ceiling of Rs. 1,33,000 for one resident.
The maximum rent for Swadhar Greh for a rented building for three residents is Rs. 50,000 per month in grade 'A' cities and Rs. 30,000 per month in grade 'B' cities and Rs. 18,000 at other places.
Assistance is offered for recurring and non-recurring expenditure for management of Swadhar Greh.
Provisions of food, shelter, clothing, medical care, the pocket expense for residents and children.
Provision of counselling, legal aid, vocational training and guidance.
There is a provision of one-time non-recurring grant of Rs. 5000 per women to purchase the essential items that include furniture, beds, bedding, utensils, television, etc., as per their requirements.
In addition to this, on the successful implementation of the project for five years, the Project Sanctioning Committee decides the continuance for further periods that permits appropriate amount which does not exceed the original grant allocated to replace unserviceable items.

Strategies

The objective set by Swadhar Greh is achieved through the following strategies:

Temporary residential accommodation with provision of food, clothing, medical facilities, etc
Vocational and skill up gradation training for economic rehabilitation of affected women
Counselling, awareness generation and behavioural training
Legal aid and guidance
Counselling via phone calls

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