The scheme envisions a supportive institutional framework for women victims of difficult circumstances so that they could lead their life with dignity and conviction.

From 2021-22, for administrative purposes, Swadhar and Ujjawala Scheme have been merged and these will be known as ‘Shakti Sadan’ - Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home under the Samarthya component of Mission Shakti.

Objectives

Under the Scheme , Swadhar Greh will be set up in every district with capacity of 30 women with the following objectives:

To cater to the primary need of shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment and care of the women in distress and who are without any social and economic support.
To enable them to regain their emotional strength that gets hampered due to their encounter with unfortunate circumstances.
To provide them with legal aid and guidance to enable them to take steps for their readjustment in family/society.
To rehabilitate them economically and emotionally
To act as a support system that understands and meets various requirements of women in distress.
To enable them to start their life afresh with dignity and conviction.

For big cities and other districts having more than 40 lakh population or those districts where there is a need for additional support to the women, more than one Swadhar Greh could be established. The capacity of Swadhar Greh could be expanded up to 50 or 100 on the basis of need assessment and other important parameters.

Beneficiaries

The benefit of the component could be availed by women above 18 years of age of the following categories:

Women who are deserted and are without any social and economic support;
Women survivors of natural disasters who have been rendered homeless and are without any social and economic support;
Women prisoners released from jail and are without family, social and economic support;
Women victims of domestic violence, family tension or discord, who are made to leave their homes without any means of subsistence and have no special protection from exploitation and/ or facing litigation on account of marital disputes; and
Trafficked women/girls rescued or runaway from brothels or other places where they face exploitation and Women affected by HIV/AIDS who do not have any social or economic support. However such women/ girls should first seek assistance under UJJAWALA Scheme in areas where it is in operation.

Women affected by domestic violence could stay up to one year. For other categories of women, the maximum period of stay could be up to 3 years. The older women above the 55 years of age may be accommodated for maximum period of 5 years after which they will have to shift to old age homes or similar institutions.

Swadhar Greh facilities could also be availed by the children accompanying women in the above categories. Girls up to the age of 18 years and boys up to the age of 12 years would be allowed to stay in the Swadhar Greh with their mothers. (Boys of more than 12 years of age need to be shifted to the Children Homes run under JJ Act/ICPS.)

Implementing Agencies and Eligibility Criteria

Any of the following agencies/organizations can seek assistance under the Scheme:

State Government agencies including Women Development Corporations established by the State Governments
Central or State autonomous bodies.
Municipal Bodies
Cantonment Boards
Panchayati Raj Institutions and Co-operative institutions
Departments of Women and Child Development/Social Welfare of the State Governments which may construct Swadhar Greh and run them on their own or lease them to organization(s) having requisite experience for such period as deemed fit, for managing the operations under this scheme
Public Trusts registered under any law for the time being in force
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) such as NGOs etc. having proven track record of working in the fields of women’s welfare/social welfare/ women’s education subject to the condition that such organization is registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860 or any relevant State Act;

The organization - Public Trusts and CSOs should meet the following criteria:

It should be either recognized by the State/ UT Administration under existing Scheme/law or should be well known with the experience of working in the field for at least 3 years and its work should be reported to be satisfactory by the State Government/Union Territory Administration concerned,
It should ordinarily have been engaged in the field of women’s welfare/social welfare/women’s education for a minimum period of two years prior to the request for grant-in-aid under the scheme,
It should have facilities, resources, personnel and experience to undertake the management of such a project,
Its financial position should be sound to take care of expenditure for a few months in case the grant is delayed.
It should run the Swadhar Greh on a no – profit basis.
The organization should have facilities like computers, internet connection etc. at Swadhar Greh.

Note : From 2021-22, the proposals for new homes from the States/ UTs only will be considered for financial assistance. No funding support for construction of new homes will be provided.The cost of running such as administrative/ management cost including rental will be provided. Further, all existing Homes currently being run/ operated by NGOs [Homes not set up by the State/UT Governments] will be permitted to run till 31-3-2024 giving sufficient time to States/ UTs to get these integrated into the new scheme.

Components of the Scheme

Rent for Swadhar Greh, if run in a rented building. The maximum rent admissible for a Swadhar Greh intended for 30 residents is Rs. 50,000/- per month in grade ‘A’ cities, Rs. 30,000/- per month ingrade ‘B’ cities and Rs. 18,000/- at other places.
Assistance for recurring and non recurring expenditure for management of Swadhar Greh
Provision for food, shelter, clothing, medical care, pocket expense for residents and children
Provision of counseling, legal aid, vocational training and guidance.

For the complete information on the scheme, click here.

Source : Ministry of Women and Child Development

Addresses of Swadhar Greh

To get the directory of Swadhar Greh, click here