Mission Shakti: Annpurna Devi chairs MP panel meet in Kolkata on women's safety
Synopsis
With 991 One Stop Centres already assisting over 15.20 lakh women and ₹5,000 in maternity cash transfers reaching mothers since 2017, Mission Shakti is quietly one of India's widest-reach welfare architectures. A parliamentary panel review in Kolkata has put its funding mechanics and district-level gaps back under the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Annpurna Devi chaired the Consultative Committee of MPs in Kolkata on 21 August to review Mission Shakti schemes.
1,033 One Stop Centres have been approved; 991 are functional and have assisted over 15.20 lakh women since April 2015 .
PMMVY provides ₹5,000 per first child directly into Aadhaar-seeded accounts; combined with Janani Suraksha Yojana, average support reaches ₹6,000 .
An additional ₹6,000 incentive is available for a second child if the child is a girl. 'Sambal' sub-scheme receives 100% Central funding ; 'Samarthya' follows a 60:40 Centre-State ratio, eased to 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States.
Minister of State Savitri Thakur reaffirmed continued coordination with States and UTs on Mission Shakti delivery.
Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Friday, 21 August chaired the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament attached to the Ministry in Kolkata, focusing on key schemes under Mission Shakti for women's safety, security, and empowerment. Members of Parliament from both Houses and senior Ministry officials attended the deliberations.
Key Schemes on the Agenda
The meeting centred on three flagship components of Mission Shakti: One Stop Centres (OSC), the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), and SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW). Annpurna Devi described Mission Shakti as the government's integrated framework for the protection and upliftment of women across India.
She outlined the scheme's two sub-components. The 'Sambal' sub-scheme — covering One Stop Centres, the Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Nari Adalat — receives 100 per cent Central funding for all States and Union Territories. The 'Samarthya' sub-scheme — covering Hubs for Empowerment of Women, PMMVY, Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, and Palna — operates on a 60:40 Centre-State funding ratio, adjusted to 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, while UTs without a legislature receive full Central funding.
One Stop Centres: Reach and Impact
One Stop Centres, funded under the Nirbhaya Fund and operational since 1 April 2015, provide integrated support under a single roof for women affected by violence or in distress. The scheme targets at least one OSC in every district of the country. As of the meeting, 1,033 OSCs have been approved, of which 991 are functional and have collectively assisted more than 15.20 lakh women, according to the Minister.
PMMVY: Cash Support for Mothers
The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, implemented pan-India since 1 January 2017, provides a cash incentive of ₹5,000 for the first child, disbursed directly into the Aadhaar-seeded bank or post office account of the mother in two instalments — ₹3,000 on registration of pregnancy and completion of at least one ante-natal check-up, and ₹2,000 on registration of childbirth and completion of the first vaccination cycle.
Combined with benefits under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, a beneficiary receives an average of ₹6,000 in total support. An additional cash incentive of ₹6,000 is provided for the second child if the child is a girl, aimed at reinforcing a positive attitude towards the girl child.
Ministry's Commitment Going Forward
Minister of State Savitri Thakur thanked the Members for their inputs and reaffirmed the Ministry's intent to work closely with States, UTs, and other stakeholders to ensure that every woman in need can access services under Mission Shakti. Annpurna Devi reiterated the Ministry's commitment to advancing the Prime Minister's vision of women-led development and a Viksit Bharat. The consultative session is part of an ongoing parliamentary engagement mechanism that allows elected representatives to review and guide welfare scheme implementation.
Point of View
But the numbers embedded in it are not. Over 15.20 lakh women assisted through One Stop Centres is a significant footprint — yet with 1,033 OSCs approved against India's 766-plus districts, the coverage arithmetic still leaves gaps, particularly in remote sub-districts. The PMMVY's ₹5,000 incentive, unchanged since 2017, has not been indexed to inflation, quietly eroding its real value for the mothers it targets. Parliament's consultative committees are advisory, not binding — the real accountability test is whether State-level implementation data is made public and whether the 42 OSCs that remain non-functional are brought online with a clear timeline.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mission Shakti and what does it cover?
Mission Shakti is the Central government's integrated scheme for the safety, security, and empowerment of women in India. It has two sub-components: 'Sambal', which covers One Stop Centres, the Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Nari Adalat; and 'Samarthya', which covers Hubs for Empowerment of Women, PMMVY, Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, and Palna.
How many One Stop Centres are operational in India?
As of 21 August, 991 out of 1,033 approved One Stop Centres are functional across India. Together, they have assisted more than 15.20 lakh women affected by violence or in distress since the scheme began on 1 April 2015.
What financial benefit does PMMVY provide to mothers?
The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana provides ₹5,000 to mothers for their first child in two instalments — ₹3,000 on pregnancy registration and ₹2,000 after childbirth and first vaccination. Combined with Janani Suraksha Yojana, the average total benefit reaches ₹6,000.
Is there any incentive for the second child under PMMVY?
Yes. A cash incentive of ₹6,000 is provided for the second child if the child is a girl, aimed at encouraging a positive attitude towards the girl child.
How is Mission Shakti funded between the Centre and States?
The 'Sambal' sub-scheme is 100% Centrally funded. The 'Samarthya' sub-scheme follows a 60:40 Centre-State ratio, adjusted to 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States. UTs without a legislature receive 100% Central funding.
