Government schemes for women in Sikkim, from Aama's ₹40,000 to free buses

Also called Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana, Aama Yojana, Sikkim Aama Sashakti Karan Yojana, SASY, Aama Scheme

₹40,000 a year, paid in two instalments

Money for non-working mothers: ₹40,000 a year, paid in two instalments straight into a bank account through the State Bank of Sikkim. It is for mothers aged 18 to 59 who are not working, including unmarried, widowed, divorced or separated mothers.

Status

Paying in 2026: on 3 October 2026 the Chief Minister handed cheques to 1,000 mothers in Rhenock, and MLAs are handing over cheques in their own constituencies (checked 19 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Mother aged 18 to 59
• Non-working
• Unmarried, widowed, divorced or separated mothers are covered

How to apply

1. Ask your Block Development Office, or your municipal office in a town, about the current list and form
2. Eligible mothers are listed and certified locally; beneficiary lists are posted on the department page of sikkim.gov.in
3. Keep a bank account in your own name ready for the transfer

In person: Block Development Office (rural) or municipal office (urban); Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Gangtok

Run by

Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim

The official pages that were readable do not list the full document list or the household and employment conditions, so check with your Block Development Office before you travel. Older articles show ₹20,000 a year; that was the amount in 2022.

Checked 19 October 2026 against Aama Samman Diwas: A Historic Tribute to Mothers, Distribution of Aama Sashaktikaran and Aama Sahayog Yojana benefits across Pakyong District, CM Tamang Extends Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana (3 October 2026), Schemes, WCD Department · Official page to apply

Also called Unmarried women pension, SUWPS

₹2,000 a month

A monthly pension of ₹2,000 for unmarried women aged 45 or above. It is paid fully by the Sikkim government.

Status

Listed as a live state scheme on the Sikkim pension portal, which has online registration; checked 19 October 2026.

Who can apply

• Unmarried woman aged 45 or above
• Must have an unmarried certificate
• The portal also lists general conditions for its pensions: BPL household status (Antyodaya Anna Yojana or Priority Household ration card) and a Jan Dhan bank account

Documents

• Unmarried certificate
• SSC, Certificate of Identification or residential certificate
• Aadhaar
• Ration card (Antyodaya Anna Yojana or Priority Household)
• Jan Dhan bank account

How to apply

1. Open the Sikkim pension portal and press Apply Now
2. Register and log in
3. Fill the form and upload the documents

In person: Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Gangtok

Run by

Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim

The portal lists the BPL and ration card documents under its general criteria for all its pensions. It does not say whether every one of them is checked for this scheme, so ask the department.

Checked 19 October 2026 against Online Pension Scheme Registration, Sikkim, Women's Day celebrated at Pakyong (12 March 2020) · Official page to apply

Also called Widow pension Sikkim, IGNWPS Sikkim

₹2,000 a month

A monthly pension of ₹2,000 for widows aged 21 or above. The amount is made up of the central and the Sikkim government share, and it is paid into the widow's bank account.

Status

Listed on the Sikkim pension portal with ₹2,000 a month and online registration; the portal's 2026 life certificate deadline of 28 February 2026 has passed (checked 19 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Widow aged 21 or above
• Husband's death certificate that names the applicant as legal wife or widow
• Non-marriage certificate (the portal's wording)
• The portal also lists general conditions for its pensions: BPL household status (Antyodaya Anna Yojana or Priority Household ration card) and a Jan Dhan bank account

Documents

• Husband's death certificate
• Non-marriage certificate
• SSC, Certificate of Identification or residential certificate
• Aadhaar
• Ration card (Antyodaya Anna Yojana or Priority Household)
• Jan Dhan bank account

How to apply

1. Open the Sikkim pension portal and press Apply Now
2. Register and log in
3. Fill the form and upload the documents

In person: Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Gangtok

Run by

Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim

This is a national pension that Sikkim runs through its own portal. A pensioner also has to submit a life certificate each year; the 2026 date was 28 February 2026, so ask the department about the next one.

Checked 19 October 2026 against Online Pension Scheme Registration, Sikkim, Schemes, WCD Department · Official page to apply

Also called Free SNT bus travel for BPL women, Free bus travel Sikkim women

Full bus fare waived

Women in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) group travel free on buses inside Sikkim and on buses to other states, including buses run by private operators.

Status

In force from 11 September 2024, with the district page showing an end date of 1 September 2029 (checked 19 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Woman in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category
• Show a BPL certificate issued by the Directorate of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation (DESME)

Documents

• BPL certificate issued by DESME

How to apply

1. Get the BPL certificate from DESME if you do not have one
2. Show it to the conductor when you board

In person: Transport Department (SNT), Gangtok

Run by

Transport Department, Government of Sikkim

It is for BPL women only, not all women. The full order is a PDF that could not be read as text, so the details here come from the Gangtok district page and the Transport Department circular list.

Checked 19 October 2026 against Full concession on bus fares, Circulars, Free SNT Bus Travel for PWD (40%) and BPL Women (3 October 2024), Circular PDF · Official page to apply

Also called Sikkim Niyukti Kendra, NK, Sikkim employment exchange

Job placement help, apprenticeship help and career counselling (no cash)

The state's job help centre under the Skill Development Department. It lists women, marginalised people and unemployed youth as the people it serves.

Status

Running placement, apprenticeship and counselling work; the department says its registration website is still being developed (checked 19 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Women, marginalised people and unemployed youth are named as target groups
• No eligibility limits are published

How to apply

1. Open the Niyukti Kendra website
2. Or call the Skill Development Department toll-free number 18003459086

In person: Skill Development Department, Shram Bhawan, Sokaythang, Gangtok

Run by

Skill Development Department, Government of Sikkim

The department page says tracking is still done by hand and the registration website is under development, so registration may not work online yet. Confirm by phone.

Checked 19 October 2026 against NK (Niyukti Kendra), Contact us · Official page to apply

Also called Sikkim Inspires, INSPIRES skill training, Adventure Skills Training Programme

Short skills training, placement help and enterprise support for women and youth

A state programme to bring more women and young people into paid work and small businesses outside farming. It offers short skills courses, help to get placed, and entrepreneurship support.

Status

In effect since March 2024; the programme page lists 2025 to 2026 training calendars and an open form for the Adventure Skills Training Programme (checked 19 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Women and youth of Sikkim; the programme page does not give age or income limits
• Each course has its own form and conditions

How to apply

1. Open the INSPIRES training calendar and pick a course
2. Use the online form for that course
3. Or email or phone the programme office

In person: Sikkim INSPIRES, 1st Floor, Tower Building, Tashiling Secretariat, Gangtok 737101; phone +91 81588 81484; email sikkim.inspires@sikkim.gov.in

Run by

Skill Development Department and other departments, Government of Sikkim (World Bank supported)

The programme page names no target numbers and no cash payment to trainees. Eligibility and fees are course by course, so check each course notice.

Checked 19 October 2026 against Programme development objective, Sikkim INSPIRES · Official page to apply

Also called SYSS, Sikkim startup subsidy, Skilled Youth Start Up Scheme

Back-ended subsidy of 35% of the bank-approved project cost (50% for BPL families), on bank loans for projects up to ₹20 lakh depending on the activity

A bank loan with a state subsidy to start a small business, for unemployed educated youth. Women are not given a separate quota in the guidelines, but they can apply like anyone else.

Status

The official guidelines are on the department site; no closing notice was seen, but no 2026 notice either, so ask the District Industries Centre (checked 19 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Holder of a Certificate of Identification (own or father's) or residential certificate in urban areas
• Unemployed, with at least Class V
• Age 18 to 45 on the date of application
• Only one member of a family can benefit
• Family income not more than ₹8 lakh a year
• Not a bank defaulter, and has not taken a subsidy under CMSS or PMEGP

Documents

• Certificate of Identification or residential certificate
• Detailed Project Report
• Trade licence
• Application in the prescribed format

How to apply

1. Prepare a project report for a bankable business
2. Submit the form and papers to the General Manager of the District Industries Centre (Gangtok or Jorethang)
3. Do the 3-day entrepreneur training after selection; the bank releases the loan after it

In person: District Industries Centre, Gangtok or Jorethang

Run by

Commerce and Industries Department, Government of Sikkim

These guidelines date from 2021, and the promoter's own contribution is 5 to 15 percent of project cost. The subsidy is held in the bank and adjusted against the loan after 3 years. The Start-up India page for Sikkim also lists an incentive of ₹5,000 per woman, transgender or disabled person hired, up to ₹1 lakh per startup for 3 years.

Checked 19 October 2026 against Guidelines, Skilled Youth Startup Scheme, Sikkim state startup policy (Startup India), Commerce and Industries Department · Official page to apply