Why in news? The Supreme Court has sought more information from the government about ‘Mission Shakti’, intrigued by a possible chronic shortage in ‘protection officers’ to deal with domestic violence cases.

Highlights:

• A government document in the top court shows that 4.4 lakh cases of domestic assault are pending across a sample 801 districts.
• There is still a lack of clarity about actually employment of protection officers to effectively help the traumatised survivors.

Who are the protection officer?

• Protection officers, should ideally be women, have a pivotal role under the law.
• They help victims file complaints, give information to the police, provide immediate protection and support, inform victims about their legal rights and support them through the court proceedings.
• Appointment of protection officers is mandated under Section 8 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

About Mission Shakti

• It is an integrated women empowerment programme as umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of women for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period 202l-22 to 2025-26
• The scheme seeks to make women economically empowered, exercising free choice over their minds and bodies in an atmosphere free from violence and threat.
• ‘Mission Shakti’ has two sub-schemes ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’. While the “Sambal” sub-scheme is for safety and security of women, the “Samarthya” sub-scheme is for empowerment of women.

Sambal

• The components of ‘Sambal’ sub-scheme consist of erstwhile schemes of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
• New component of Nari Adalats – women’s collectives to promote and facilitate alternative dispute resolution and gender justice in society and within families.

Samarthya

• The components of ‘Samarthya’ sub-scheme consist of erstwhile schemes of Ujjwala, Swadhar Greh and Working Women Hostel have been included with modifications.
• In addition, the existing schemes of National Creche Scheme for children of working mothers and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) under umbrella ICDS have now been included in Samarthya.
• A new component of Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment has also been added in the Samarthya Scheme.