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For women empowerment, Ministry started “Nai Roshni”, a Leadership Development Programme for Minority Women in 2012-13.

The scheme is under administrative control of Ministry of Minority Affairs Government of India.
Minister of Minority Affairs – Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

The objective of the scheme is to empower and instill confidence among minority women, including their neighbours from other communities living in the same village/locality, by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and other institutions at all levels.
To embolden the minority women to move out of the confines of their homes and community and assume leadership roles in society.

The scheme’s prime focus is on minority women.
Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Zoroastrian (Parsi) and Jain women notified under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 come under the target group.
While NaiRoshni scheme targets women beneficiaries specifically, other schemes of the Ministry also lay lot of emphasis on minority women. In SeekhoAurKamao (Learn & Earn) Scheme, 33% of the total beneficiaries are women. Similarly in NaiManzilscheme , 30% of the total beneficiaries are women.

“NaiRoshni”, a scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women is being implemented across India
This includes empowerment of the trainee women so that they become independent and confident members of the society.
The scheme provides for six days training programme followed by handholding for a period of one year. The training is provided on various pre-designed Training modules covering issues relating to women viz. Leadership of Women through participation in decision making, Educational Programmes for women, Health and Hygiene, Legal rights of women, Financial Literacy, Digital Literacy, Swachh Bharat, Life Skills, and Advocacy for Social and Behaviourial change.
The Scheme is being implemented through Non-Governmental Organisations empanelled under the NaiRoshni Scheme as per scheme guidelines in force.
These schemes help in economic empowerment of the Minority women.
The scheme helps in fighting different social stigmas such as poverty, as women and children are the worst sufferers of poverty.

Empowerment of women per se is not only essential for equity, but also constitutes a critical element in our fight for poverty reduction, economic growth and strengthening of civil society.
Women and children are always the worst sufferers in a poverty stricken family and need support. Empowering women, especially mothers, is even more important as it is in homes that she nourishes, nurture and moulds the character of her offspring.

Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 had granted minority status to five communities(Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis) based on their national population.

Nai Roshni Scheme