The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme revised with effect from 1^st April 2016. The Scheme caters to primary needs of women in difficult circumstances – women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism or are being forced into prostitution and are in moral danger. Through the provisions of shelter, food, clothing, counselling, training, clinical and legal aid, the Scheme aims to rehabilitate such women in difficult circumstance economically and emotionally.

The Ministry has constructed Home for Widows, namely, 'Krishna Kutir' at Vrindavan, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh which can accommodate 1000 widows. The home is fully funded by the Ministry. It aims to provide the widows a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counselling services. This Home was inaugurated on 31.08.2018 and it is the largest shelter home for widows in the country. The capacity of residents in ‘Krishna Kutir’ is 1000 and present occupancy is 140.

Most of the Swadhar Grehs are running in the rented buildings. One Swadhar Greh in Madhya Pradesh and three, including one Krishna Kutir, have been constructed in Uttar Pradesh.

Swadhar Grehs do not have low occupancy, which stands at 76.2% at all India level during 2021-22. Under the new Mission Shakti, it is envisaged to revise the Scheme guidelines to make them more useful for the beneficiaries and spread awareness about these homes through the National Hub for Empowerment of Women.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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