MP Cabinet Panel Reviews Women Empowerment Schemes, Flags Need for Updates

A cabinet sub-committee constituted to oversee implementation of women empowerment schemes met at the state secretariat on Tuesday, with discussions veering towards the need for significant updates in existing programmes to match current socio-economic realities.

The meeting, chaired by Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Nirmala Bhuria, lasted nearly two hours and saw participation from both in-person attendees and virtual members. Officials familiar with the proceedings told reporters that the panel examined major state-run initiatives aimed at making women financially self-reliant, alongside reviewing ground-level bottlenecks.

Focus on Economic Self-Reliance

Sources said the committee spent considerable time assessing schemes that provide direct benefit transfers, skill training, and livelihood support to women in rural and urban areas. Minister Bhuria emphasised that while Madhya Pradesh has seen improved female workforce participation over the last few years, several schemes need recalibration.

“The idea is to identify gaps between policy intent and on-ground delivery,” an official present at the meeting said on condition of anonymity. The committee also looked at how ongoing programmes have fared in districts with traditionally low female literacy and employment rates.

Key Attendees and Virtual Participation

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister of State Smt. Radha Singh attended the meeting in person at the Mantralaya. Urban Development and Housing Minister of State Smt. Pratima Bagri joined virtually, reflecting a hybrid working style that has become common in government business post-pandemic.

Both ministers shared inputs from their respective departments, highlighting challenges women face in accessing housing schemes and rural livelihood missions. According to initial reports, Bagri flagged delays in forming women’s self-help groups in certain municipal wards, a point that the committee agreed to take up with district collectors.

Discussion on Relevance and Required Changes

The sub-committee, formed earlier this year to fast-track women-centric policies, deliberated on the current relevance of some older schemes. Officials indicated that certain programmes launched nearly a decade ago have not kept pace with changes in labour markets, digital access, or mobility patterns of women.

For instance, skill training modules that focus on traditional crafts may need to include newer sectors like e-commerce logistics or basic IT services. The committee also discussed the possibility of merging overlapping schemes to reduce duplication and improve fund utilisation.

Background of State’s Women Empowerment Push

Madhya Pradesh has run several flagship schemes for women, including Ladli Laxmi Yojana (conditional cash transfer for girl children) and Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh (a revolving fund for women entrepreneurs). However, independent assessments have pointed to uneven implementation across districts, with tribal-dominated and remote areas often lagging.

Tuesday’s meeting was seen as a preparatory step before the committee submits its recommendations to the full cabinet. Ministers are expected to call for district-level feedback before finalising any structural changes.

What Happens Next

Committee chairperson Bhuria told reporters after the meeting that a detailed report with proposed amendments will be circulated within two weeks. “We have listened to field-level inputs. Now we need to act,” she said, without taking questions on specific scheme names.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for the first week of June, where the panel will prioritise schemes that require immediate executive action versus those needing legislative changes. Officials said any major overhaul would be rolled out in a phased manner, starting with pilot districts.