The government plans to conduct a detailed survey of the condition of women in select districts whose findings will help it launch an ambitious programme to empower them at the grassroots level.

“We are going to conduct certain studies and research programmes in 30 districts on various issues related to women as a pilot project. These districts could fall in conflict zones, backward or inaccessible regions and economically poor districts,” says Madhavi Jupaka, senior research officer of the national resource centre for women (NRCW), part of the ministry of women and child development.

This large-scale survey will form the basis for the next stage – providing these women with skill development, vocational training, a safe environment for women, health and education of all girls especially those belonging to vulnerable groups in schools from primary to class 12. The mission is named as Mission Poorna Shakti for holistic empowerment of women.

The mission aims to empower women till the last mile of those districts and achieve 100 percent success in these districts, Jupaka says. The ministry is in the process of selecting the districts.

The government also plans to target those women who are not defined in terms of vulnerability. “How can we define a woman whose husband is killed in communal riots? She can’t avail any schemes and she is widow. She doesn’t have means for any livelihood schemes,” she adds.

The ministry will most likely put the proposal in action mode this year. “We will be forming various research studies to facilitate a kind of evidence based or action research which will try to find a solution of a particular issue on a particular region that can address problems of that region,” says Jupuka.

While the research survey will be conducted in select districts, their findings will form the basis for programmes that will be replicated all over India.

The NRCW was formed in March 2010 to carry out impact assessment studies of policies, schemes and programmes.