Government Schemes For Housewife

The Government of India and state governments have introduced various schemes to empower women and housewives. These schemes provide monthly cash assistance, support for starting small businesses, and subsidies for gas, housing, and electricity. Additionally, special banking and fixed deposit programs offer higher interest rates on savings.

Targeted initiatives also support female farmers, pregnant women, and promote the welfare of the girl child. The Modi schemes for housewives, along with state programs, aim to improve the quality of life for women throughout the country. Read on to discover the different government schemes available for housewives.

Table of Contents:

• ⇾ Highlights of Government Schemes for Housewives in India
• ⇾ List of Government Schemes for Housewives
• ⇾ Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
• ⇾ Mahila Samman Savings Scheme
• ⇾ Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
• ⇾ Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
• ⇾ Griha Aadhar Scheme
• ⇾ Swadhar Greh Scheme
• ⇾ Mudra Yojana
• ⇾ Udyogini Scheme
• ⇾ Mahila Coir Yojana
• ⇾ Lakhpati Didi Scheme
• ⇾ Mahila Samriddhi Yojana
• ⇾ Micro-Credit Finance (MCF)
• ⇾ Aajeevika Microfinance Yojana
• ⇾ Udyam Nidhi Yojana
• ⇾ Gruha Lakshmi Yojana
• ⇾ Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK)
• ⇾ Empowerment Programs for Housewives
• ⇾ Apply for Government Schemes for Housewives
• ⇾ Frequently Asked Questions

Highlights of Government Schemes for Housewives in India

India has launched various government schemes for housewives, covering banking, social benefits, and opportunities to start new businesses. Let’s take a look at the overview below.

Government Business Loan Schemes For Housewives

The government helps empower housewives by helping them start a small businesses from their home. Let’s have an overview of the government loan scheme to start a new business.

List of Government Schemes for Housewives

As mentioned above, many housewife schemes support women of rural, urban, and backward communities. Now, let’s look at what each of them is about, including its features, benefits, & eligibility criteria.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is a financial inclusion scheme to open zero-balance bank accounts with just an Aadhaar card as a document of proof. Opening a bank account helps women to easily access financial services and to avail of insurance.

The key features of PMJDY scheme are:

• Zero-balance savings account for housewives.
• Free RuPay debit card.
• Accident insurance up to ₹2 lakh.
• Overdraft facility of ₹10,000.

Note that to open bank accounts for minors, they should apply through legal guardians as the main account holders.

Mahila Samman Savings Scheme

Mahila Samman Savings Scheme is a special saving scheme providing interest rates of 7.5% p.a. for deposits of up to ₹2 lakhs.

The key features of MSSC scheme are:

• Deposit amount: ₹1000 to ₹2 lakhs
• The deposit period is 2 years
• Earn interest at 7.5% p.a
• Women of any age group can apply
• To open an account for a minor girl, a guardian can open an account on their name.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

This scheme aims to provide LPG connections to women in rural and backward communities. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched on May 1st, 2016 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to promote a smoke-free healthy lifestyle for women. The primary objective of the PMUY scheme is to empower women and protect their health.

Here are the eligibility criteria to apply for this scheme;

• The woman should belong to the BPL family.
• The family should not have prior access to the LPG connection.
• The woman must be more than 18 years of age.
• The applicant should not be availing the benefits of any other scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (Pmmvy)

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is maternity benefit scheme providing ₹5000/- to pregnant & lactating mothers. The cash amount is directly transferred to the beneficiary helping mothers.

The key features of PMMVY scheme are:

• Eligible women receive ₹5,000 in three installments.
• For women of 19 years of age or older for the first live birth.
• The first installment of ₹3,000 is provided after registration of pregnancy, and the second installment of ₹2,000 is given post-delivery of the child.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), launched on June 25th, 2015, supports housing ownership among women, in both rural and urban areas. The scheme covers necessities such as kitchen, power supply, water supply, and toilet facilities. It provides credit-based subsidy, which allows women to avail of houses at low interest rates via discounts.

Here are the eligibility criteria for the PMAY:

• The house should be owned or co-owned by any one female member of the family.
• The applicant must not have a house in her name anywhere in the country.
• The annual income of the family must be up to ₹18 Lakhs and no more.
• The applicant should be an Indian resident, aged 18 years.

Note that based on your income category, the eligibility criteria may vary.

Griha Aadhar Scheme

It was introduced by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Goa. The Griha Aadhar Scheme provides financial aid of INR 1,500 per month to housewives of backward sections of society. The goal of this scheme is to support a reasonable living standard for the woman and her family.

The eligibility criteria for this scheme are as follows:

• Only a married woman can apply above the age of 18 can apply.
• The applicant should have been living in Goa for the past 15 years.
• The annual income of the housewife and her husband should not be more than INR 3,00,000 per annum.

Swadhar Greh Scheme

Swadhar Greh Scheme is a livelihood support scheme run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The scheme supports women in difficult circumstances with shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security.

The key features of the Swadhar Greh scheme are:

• Women facing domestic violence can stay up to 1 year.
• Others can stay for up to 3 years.
• Older women (above 55) can stay for up to 5 years before moving to old age homes.
• Women can stay with their children—girls up to 18 years and boys up to 8 years.

Mudra Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Scheme provides loans to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, helping them grow by taking loans without the need for any security or guarantee. Mudra loans are only offered to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.

• Loans up to ₹10 lakh for micro and small businesses.
• No need for security or a guarantee for the loan.
• Three categories of loans: Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh), and Tarun (₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh).
• Flexible repayment terms with low interest rates.
• Aimed at promoting financial inclusion and self-employment.

Udyogini Scheme

The Udyogini Scheme empowers women entrepreneurs by providing easy access to loans, enabling them to start or expand small businesses and achieve financial independence.

• Offers loans up to ₹3 lakh to women for small business ventures.
• Special focus on women from economically weaker sections.
• No security or guarantee is needed for small loans.
• Interest subsidies are available for loans taken by women in rural areas.
• Encourages entrepreneurship in agriculture, retail, and other sectors.

Mahila Coir Yojana

The Mahila Coir Yojana supports the creation of women-led cooperative societies by providing financial assistance for self-employment opportunities and income generation.

• Financial support to form women-run cooperative societies.
• Aims to enhance self-reliance through cooperative businesses.
• Promotes women’s participation in income-generating activities.
• Encourages teamwork and shared ownership among women.
• Suitable for sectors like handicrafts, agriculture, and food processing.

Lakhpati Didi Scheme

The Lakhpati Didi Scheme aims to empower rural women by helping them become financially independent through self-help groups, allowing them to earn at least ₹1 lakh annually.

• Supports rural women to achieve a stable annual income of ₹1 lakh.
• Encourages the formation of self-help groups (SHGs) for income-generating activities.
• Focus on skill development and entrepreneurship.
• Provides access to loans and financial aid for small businesses.
• Promotes women’s financial security and growth in rural areas.

Mahila E-Haat Scheme

The Mahila E-Haat Scheme is an online platform that promotes women entrepreneurs by providing them with a marketplace to sell their products and services directly to consumers, eliminating intermediaries.

• Offers a digital platform for women to showcase and sell their products.
• Focus on handicrafts, handlooms, and other women-led businesses.
• Facilitates direct interaction between sellers and buyers.
• Enhances visibility for women entrepreneurs in the market.
• Encourages the use of e-commerce to boost sales and income.

Mahila Samriddhi Yojana

The Mahila Samriddhi Yojana aims to empower women, especially those from SC/ST backgrounds, by providing them with financial assistance and support for income-generating activities.

• Financial support specifically for women from SC/ST communities.
• Encourages entrepreneurship and self-employment.
• Provides access to skill development programs.
• Focus on enhancing financial literacy among women.
• Promotes sustainable income through small business initiatives.

Micro-Credit Finance (MCF)

The Micro-Credit Finance (MCF) program provides micro-loans to women from marginalized communities, enabling them to start small businesses and improve their economic conditions.

• Micro-loans offered without collateral to low-income women.
• Supports income-generating activities and entrepreneurship.
• Helps women achieve financial independence and stability.
• Flexible repayment options to suit borrowers’ needs.
• Encourages savings and financial management skills.

Aajeevika Microfinance Yojana

The Aajeevika Microfinance Yojana aims to provide micro-financing options to women’s self-help groups, facilitating access to credit and promoting self-employment in rural areas.

• Provides micro-loans to self-help groups (SHGs) for various livelihood activities.
• Focuses on empowering women and improving their socio-economic status.
• Encourages group savings and responsible borrowing.
• Offers training programs for skill development and financial literacy.
• Aims to promote entrepreneurship among rural women.

Udyam Nidhi Yojana

The Udyam Nidhi Yojana is designed to provide financial assistance to women entrepreneurs, helping them establish and grow their small enterprises through easy access to credit.

• Loans are available for starting or expanding small businesses.
• Focus on women entrepreneurs, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Simple application process with minimal documentation.
• Interest subsidies are available for eligible borrowers.
• Aims to foster self-employment and economic empowerment.

Gruha Lakshmi Yojana

Introduced by the Government of Karnataka on August 30th, 2023, it provides financial assistance to housewives. A total of INR 2,000 will be directly credited into their bank accounts, via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The Gruha Lakshmi Yojana aims to improve the quality of life for women who head the household.

The eligibility criteria for this scheme are as follows:

• The women should be the head of the family and should belong to BPL, APL, and Antyodaya ration cards.
• Government employees and taxpayers are not eligible.
• If the woman’s husband pays the income tax or GST returns, the woman will not be eligible.

Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK)

Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK) are community centers aimed at empowering women and enhancing their socio-economic status.

• Skill Development: Offers vocational training for self-reliance.
• Support Services: Provides legal aid and counseling.
• Awareness Campaigns: Educates women on rights and health.
• Networking: Facilitates self-help groups for collective entrepreneurship.
• Inclusivity: Serves women from diverse backgrounds, especially marginalized communities.

Empowerment Programs for Housewives

As per the statistics provided by the Humanity Welfare Council, 80% of Indian women have poor access to banking services and the rest 20% are unaware of the financial benefits available.

There are several women empowerment programs available to promote financial stability and literacy among women. And a couple of non-government organizations such as Women’s World Banking, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), etc., actively contribute to women’s economic empowerment.

Many other banks and financial institutions across India provide training and awareness programs for women in rural, SC/STs, and OBC communities.

Importance of Financial Inclusion for Housewives

The financial inclusion of housewives is important for the growth of society and equal opportunities for men and women to develop from tier 2 and 3 cities.

Here’s why:

• As women receive access to bank accounts, insurance, loans, investment opportunities, and more, they become more independent in taking charge of the household.
• It improves their overall well-being and can lower poverty rates in the society.
• It promotes the economic empowerment of women.

Apply for Government Schemes for Housewives

Here are a few of the general steps you can follow to apply for the housewife schemes:

• For offline application, visit the nearest Anganwadi Sevak or local bank to enquire about the government schemes for housewives.
• For online applications, there are national portals and platforms such as myScheme and Jansamarth that you can visit.
• Several financial institutions and awareness programs guide how to apply for housewife schemes.