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WOMEN
DEVELOPMENT

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English

Women development

Constitutional Rights

 Article 15(1) -The state shall not discriminate against any citizen on the ground of sex .
 Article15(3)-The state is empowered to make any special provision for women.i.e. Affirma-
tive Action.
 Article 23(1) - it prohibit Traffic in human beings and forced labour
 Article 39 - requires the State to direct its policy towards securing for men and women
equally the right to an adequate means of livelihood
 Article 39(d) -The state to secure equal pay for equal work for both men and women
 Article 39A - Directs the State to promote justice, on the basis of equal opportunity and to
promote free legal aid.
 Article 42 - Directs the State to make provision for securing justice and humane conditions
of work and for maternity relief.
 Article 51-A(e) -It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to renounce practices derogatory
to the dignity of women
 Article 243 D (3) and Article 243 T(3) provide for reservation of not less than one-third of the
total number of seats in Panchayats and Municipalities for women

Ministry of women and child development

 The ministry of women and child development was formed in the year 2006.
 The Department of Women and Child Development, Government of India, came into exist-
ence as a separate Ministry with effect from 30th January 2006,
 Earlier since 1985, it was a Department under the Ministry of Human Resources Develop-
ment.

Vision and Mission:

 Empowered women living with dignity and contributing as equal partners in development.
 Promoting social and economic empowerment of women
 Mainstreaming gender concerns,
 Creating awareness about their rights and facilitating institutional
 Legislative support for enabling them to realize their human rights and develop to their full
potential
 Organization:

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The Ministry has 6 autonomous organizations:

 National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)

 National Commission for women (NCW)
 National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
 Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA)
 Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB)
 Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)

National Commission for Women

 The National Commission for Women (NCW) is a statutory body of the Government of India,
It was set up under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 and It was established
on 31 January 1992. The Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI) recommended
in 1971, the setting up of a National Commission for women
 The NCW consists of a chairperson, five members, and a member secretary.
 It is the apex organization of India with the mandate of protecting and promoting the interests
of women.
 This body was established to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
 The first chairperson of the commission was Jayanti Patnaik.
 As of July 2020, Rekha Sharma is the current chairperson of the NCW.
 The commission regularly publishes a monthly newsletter, Rashtra Mahila, in both Hindi and
English
 The Commission enjoys all the powers of a civil court.
 The National Commission for Women comprises 7 members including the Chairman and a
secretary .
 The Chairman should be a man who devoted his life to the welfare of women.
 Members are nominated by the central government related to Law, Management Administra-
tion, Health, Education, Social Welfare provided that at least 1 member shall be from SC and
ST.
 The Central Government also nominates a member secretary. a secretary should be either an
expert in the field of management, an organization, or an officer who is a member.
 Term of office is 3 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier.
 Appointment and removal of the Chairman and members is done by central government.
 The subjects of their campaigns have included dowry, politics, religion, equal representation
for women in jobs, and the exploitation of women ;for labor
Objectives:
 Ensuring the constitutional and legal protection of women.
 improve the status of women and work for their economic empowerment.
 Advising the government on all policy matters affecting women.
 to represent the rights of women in India and to provide a voice for their issues and concerns.

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Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

 It is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly

 it was instituted on 3 September 1981 and has been ratified by 189 states

Imp facts

 International Women's Year was the name given to 1975 by the

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005

 Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 was passed by the Indian Parlia-
ment in 2005. It was brought into force by the Indian government and Ministry of Women
and Child Development on 26 October 2006
 The act covers all women who may be mother, sister, wife, widow or partners living in a
shared household.
 The relationship may be in the nature of marriage or adoption.
 In addition relationships with family members living together as a joint family is also in-
cluded.
 Definition of ";Domestic violence" is given in the Chapter II, Section 3".of the act.

As per section 3, domestic violence includes:

 Physical abuse/torture.
 Mental abuses.
 Verbal abuses.
 Sexual abuses.
 Economical abuses.

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Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act 2003:
 It regulates the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques such as ultrasound. The sonographers
are permitted to use ultrasound only for the following diagnostics:
o Metabolic disorders
o Genetic abnormalities
o Hemoglobinopathy
o Chromosomal abnormalities
o Certain congenital malformations
 Offences under this act fall under the category of non-bailable, cognizable and non- com-
poundable offences. The punishment for offences under this act ranges from 3 years in jail to
Life time imprisonment coupled with Fine.
National Policy for the Empowerment of Women, 2001

 The Department of Women & Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Devel-
opment has prepared a National Policy for the Empowerment of Women” in the year 2001.
The goal of this policy is to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment
of women.
 The Policy states that " All forms of violence against women, physical and mental, whether
at domestic or societal levels, including those arising from customs, traditions or accepted
practices shall be dealt with effectively with a view to eliminate its incidence.

Imp facts

 8th March - International Women's Day

 15th October - International Day of Rural Women
 25th November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women

Gender Samvaad

 It is a joint attempt between the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods

Mission (DAY-NRLM) and the Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the
Economy (IWWAGE).
 It aims to create a common platform to share experiences emerging from this effort.
 The attempt is to generate greater awareness on gender-related interventions under DAY-
NRLM across the country and best practices, with a focus on hearing voices from the states
and the field.

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Rashtriya Mahila kosh

 Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) was established by the Government of India in March, 1993 as
an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
 It was registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
 It is a national level organization as an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minis-
try of Women and Child Development, for socio-economic empowerment of women.
 It provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income-generat-
ing activities
 RMK extends micro-credit to the women in the informal sector through a client-friendly,
without collateral and in a hassle-free manner for income generation activities.
 Mahila E-Haat online marketing platform was launched on 7th March 2016 by the Ministry
of Women and Child Development, Government of India under Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
 RMK extends microfinance to the poorest and asset less women entrepreneurs through In-
termediary Organisations for income generating activities

UN women

 The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also
known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women.
 Formation- 2 July 2010
 Headquarter - New York City (United States)

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013:

 Sexual harassment at workplace is unwelcome verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual
nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work
environment.
 Generally, sexual harassment is a sexually oriented conduct that may endanger the victim’s
job, negatively affect the victim’s job performance or undermine the victim’s personal dig-
nity.
 The Act also includes harassment of “domestic workers” (women who work in households).

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Penalty:
 In Case, an employer fails to comply with the provisions of the Act, he shall be liable to be
punished with a ne which may extend to Rs. 50,000.
 In case of a second or subsequent conviction under this Act, the employer may be punished
with twice the punishment prescribed or by the cancellation of his license or withdrawal of
his registration.

The Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929:

 "Child" means a person who, if a male, has not completed twenty one years of age, and if a
female, has not completed eighteen years of age ;
 "Child marriage" means a marriage in which either of the bride or bridegroom is a child,
 Offences under this Act are punishable with upto 3 years of imprisonment coupled with Fine.
 All offences under this Act are cognizable, non-bailable and triable by a First Class Magistrate.

NAI ROSHNI:

 It is a Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women, launched under the Minor-
ity Affairs ministry
 It was launched in the year 2013-14. It was launched with an aim to instil a sense of confi-
dence and empowerment in the women through knowledge and practical training to make
them self-employed or economically independent.
 The training is provided for 6 days for a complete year.

Target Groups:

o Women belonging to the following religious minorities as notified under Section 2 (c)
of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Muslims
o Christians
o Buddhists
o Jains
o Sikhs
o Parsis

Training modules:

 Social & Behavioral changes

 Digital Literacy
 Enhanced Education
 Health and Hygiene

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 Legal rights to Women

 Life Skills
 Swachch Bharat, etc.

One-stop centre scheme 2015

 One-stop Centre is a centrally sponsored scheme for women empowerment under

the Ministry of Women and Child [Link] known as Sakhi, It is a
scheme for addressing the issue of violence against women.
 It aims to provide assistance and support to the women affected by violence in public
and private spheres.
 It is funded through Nirbhaya Fund.
 The Centres will be integrated with a Women Helpline to facilitate access to the fol-
lowing services:
o Emergency response and rescue services.
o Medical assistance.
o Assistance to women in lodging the FIR.
o Psycho-social support and counselling.
o Legal aid and counselling.
o Shelter.
o Video conferencing facility.
o The Scheme will be funded through Nirbhaya Fund

Nirbhaya Funds:
 The 'Nirbhaya Fund', set up by the central government in 2013, was meant to facili-
tate a number of schemes relating to women empowerment and women safety, in-
cluding emergency phone helpline assistance, compensation to victims and survivors,
prevention of crime against women and women police volunteers.

Swadhar Gruha Yojana:

 The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh
Scheme which targets women victims of difficult circumstances who require institu-
tional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity.
 The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing, and health as well as eco-
nomic and social security for these women.
 Under the Scheme, Swadhar Greh will be set up in every district with a capacity of 30
women.

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Maternity Benefit act

 Maternity benefit act 1961 was enacted by the parliament to grant benefits to women
workers employed in the registered establishment.
 The Act gives effect to the directive principle as provided under Article 42 of the Constitu-
tion.
 Article 42: Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. The State
shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity re-
lief.
 Maternity Benefit act 1961 was Amended in [Link] provisions of this act are effective
from 1 April 2017

Highlights of 2017 amendment to Maternity Benefit Act

 The 2017 amendment to the Maternity Benefit Act increased paid maternity leave to 26
weeks from 12 weeks, with 8 weeks prior to delivery and 12 weeks after the delivery.
 Paid Maternity leave increased to 26 weeks from 12 weeks, with 8 weeks prior to delivery
and 12 weeks after the delivery.
 No increased benefit for a third child, it is applicable for the first two children only.
 A woman who has already given birth to two or more children shall only be entitled to 12
weeks of maternity benefits, of which 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the delivery.
 In the case of surrogacy or adoption, if a woman adopts a child below three months or a
commissioning mother in the case of surrogacy then they are entitled to 12 weeks of Mater-
nity benefit from the date of handover of the child to the adopting or the commissioning
mother respectively.
 Crèche facility is made mandatory for the establishment employing 50 or more people.