Policy to promote Women Empowerment

♻️ Government Initiatives to empower women

✅ India has come a long way from the age of social discrimination against women to the present time wherein the concepts of women empowerment and gender equality have become key priorities. 

✅ The Government of India has taken active participation in providing impetus to the establishment of gender equality and women empowerment as envisaged by SDG 5.

✅ Various schemes of the Government  have intervened to bring in social, educational, economic and political upliftment of women such as

🔸 Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – Aims at protecting the interests of the girl child, preventing gender-biased activities in the society and in various organisations.

🔸 National Social Assistance Programme – This programme of the Ministry of Rural Development facilitated the increase of pension for poor, elderly, disabled widows from rupees 200 to rupees 800.

🔸 Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) – Looks after the security of elderly women.

🔸 Scheme for adolescent girls (SAG)

✅ The  National Education Policy of 2020 emphasized gender equity and worked towards introducing opportunities for equal access to quality education.

✅ To expand the employment opportunities and economic independence of women the government has provided training in collaboration with Women Industrial Training Institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes. In addition to this, the Government of India also enacted labour codes to assist women to work in a congenial and safe environment.

✅ The crime against women has been taken into account and different legislations have been made to protect the dignity and rights of women. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, Prevention of sexual harassment at workplace (POSH), Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006, the Dowry Provision Act was brought into action.

♻️ Walking Ahead: 

✅ Despite a series of legislation being enacted we witness crime against women rising with every passing day. This is a time when our lawmakers and administrators must ascertain the loopholes that prevail in the implementation of the policies and programmes. 

✅ Most of the time the policies remain decorated in the files especially in matters related to women safety which is a major issue. This must be addressed to increase women participation in schools, colleges and workplaces. However, India has come a long way when it comes to women participation in various sectors.

✅ The Government of India has decided to implement an umbrella scheme called ‘Mission Shakti’ which aims to offer an integrated approach for the safety, security and empowerment of women and thereby making them equal partners in nation-building. This will be a welcoming step towards the progress of the entire concept of women empowerment.

🔆 Child Protection Services Scheme

✅ In order to deliver services to children in difficult situations, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to implement a centrally sponsored scheme called the Child Protection Services Scheme.

♻️ Objectives of the Scheme (Relevant points for Prelims)

✅ The  Child Protection Services Scheme aims at ensuring age-appropriate education of children.

🔸 Nutrition of children

🔸 Access to vocational training

🔸 Recreation 

🔸 Proper delivery of healthcare services

🔸 Counselling

✅ The Child Care Institutions operating under the Ministry of Women and Child Development will look after the objectives of the scheme and its equal implementation among rural and urban children.

♻️ Significance of the scheme: (Relevant points for Mains)

✅ The census of 2011 revealed that there are 472 million children under the age of 18 and they occupy 39% of the total population. Therefore it becomes extremely important to secure and protect the children and their rights that would lead to the culmination of a welfare state as envisaged by the Constitution.

✅ The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been entrusted with the directive of monitoring the laws, policies and administrative mechanisms that are in agreement with the Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

✅ The NCPCR will work in association with the State Commissions for the protection of Child Rights through consultation, webinars, and planning important awareness programmes. This will exemplify an excellent instance of cooperation between the centre and state towards a noble purpose.

♻️ How the Indian Constitution protects child rights (Important for Prelims)

✅ Article 21 A – This provision of Part III of the Constitution guarantees the Right to free and compulsory education for all children within the age group of 6-14.

✅ Article 24 – Ensures the Right to be protected against employment in hazardous industries till the age of 14.

✅ Article 45 – This Directive Principle of State Policy promotes early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.