Introduction
The Women Component Plan (WCP) in India is considered a paradigm shift in the country’s approach to women’s development and gender budgeting. Introduced during the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002), the WCP required that at least 30% of the funds and benefits in all women-related sectors and schemes be specifically allocated for women. This strategy was not only innovative but also transformative, as it moved from women being passive recipients of welfare to active participants in development. This answer explores why the WCP is seen as a paradigm shift and supports it with practical examples.
What is the Women Component Plan?
The Women Component Plan is a strategic policy measure that mandates all ministries and departments of the Government of India to allocate a certain proportion (usually 30%) of their total budget towards programs that specifically benefit women. This is done without creating separate schemes, but by incorporating women’s concerns into existing plans and budgets.
For example, the Ministry of Rural Development under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) ensures that a minimum of one-third of the beneficiaries are women. Similarly, schemes under the Ministry of Agriculture are also expected to make provisions for women farmers.
Why is it a Paradigm Shift?
1. From Welfare to Empowerment
Earlier, women’s development was seen mainly as welfare – limited to nutrition, health, and family planning. The WCP changed this by focusing on economic empowerment, skill development, and participation in governance. This marked a shift in how the government viewed women – not just as dependents but as contributors to the economy.
2. Mainstreaming Gender
Instead of having separate “women-only” schemes, the WCP mainstreamed gender by requiring every ministry to include women in their planning. This means that gender concerns were no longer limited to the Ministry of Women and Child Development but became the responsibility of every department.
3. Quantitative Targets
By setting a target of 30%, the WCP introduced measurable accountability. This forced ministries to assess how their policies and programs affect women and to report their allocations and outcomes. This was a major shift from earlier approaches that lacked monitoring or measurable goals.
4. Focus on Inclusion
The WCP highlighted the importance of including women from marginalized communities like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women with disabilities. This broadened the scope of gender equity to intersect with social justice.
Examples of Implementation
1. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)
Under the WCP, RMK was set up as a national credit fund for women. It provided micro-finance to poor women to support income-generating activities. This helped in promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship among rural women.
2. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
The WCP influenced schemes like NRHM to address women’s reproductive and maternal health through targeted interventions. ASHA workers, mostly women, were deployed to support healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
3. Skill Development Initiatives
Programs like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) include a dedicated component for training women in vocational skills, making them employable and financially independent.
Challenges in Implementation
- Many ministries treat the 30% allocation as a formality rather than a transformative tool.
- Lack of capacity and gender-sensitive training among officials affects the quality of planning.
- Monitoring mechanisms are weak; often, funds are shown as spent on women without clear outcomes.
- Women’s voices are still underrepresented in local and national decision-making.
Recent Developments
The Gender Budgeting Statement, introduced in the Union Budget from 2005-06, was influenced by the WCP. It classifies expenditure into two parts:
- Part A: Schemes with 100% women-specific allocations.
- Part B: Schemes where at least 30% of the benefits go to women.
This classification is used to monitor and assess how effectively WCP goals are being met.
Conclusion
The Women Component Plan represents a major shift in India’s policy landscape regarding gender and development. It redefined how development planning includes women—not as passive recipients but as equal partners. While challenges in implementation remain, the WCP laid the foundation for gender-responsive governance. With better monitoring, capacity-building, and genuine commitment, the WCP can continue to be a powerful instrument for achieving gender equality in India.