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|| WWH || SSH || IMY || STEP || NORAD || RMK || PREV. OF ATROCITIES || ECP || NCW || | SUPREME COURT ORDER || NATIONAL POLICY || REVIEW & AMEDMENT OF THE LEGISLATION || BSY || SAARC || COMMON WEALTH || BEIJING +5 REVIEW || CEDAW || HARYANA INTEGRATED WDP || PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE || TRAINING || DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMME || NRCW || SCHEMES ||SWA-SHAKTI PROJECT ||
Since inception of the
programme in 1972-73, 830 hostels for 58,744 working women have been sanctioned so far.
Out of the 830 hostels, day care center facilities are also available for 7668 children in
293 hostels.
The need for providing Short Stay Homes for Women and Girls has been due to the changing pattern of life, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation and the resulting migration from rural to urban areas. The breakup of social institutions like the joint family, contributes considerably in creating problems of adjustment for women and young girls. Cases of marital conflict and emotional disturbance occur. This effort is made to help the women to rhabilitate them- selves within a short period of time. These Short Stay Homes have been established by voluntary organisations. At present, 273 Short Stay Homes receive grants from the Department, covering approximately 8190 beneficiaries. Under the scheme the grant is being released at the revised financial norms on the recommendation of the State Governments to the extent of Rs.4,51,350 (Recurring and Non-recurring) when approved by the Government of India and subsequently, recurring grant of Rs. 4,01,350 is given to the Home every year on the basis of ‘C’ Class City. There is also a provision for some increase
in subsequent years on the component of rent and the maintenance cost for residents.
Provisions have also been made for upgrading skills and capacities of staff and residents
as well as education of the children of residents. The implementation of the scheme has
been transferred to the Central Social Welfare Board.
Since the inception of the programme about
3.32 lakh women have been benefitted through 61 projects
EDUCATION WORK FOR PREVENTION OF
ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMENEDUCATION WORK FOR PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMEN Linked with social advocacy and legal literacy issues, this programmes started in 1982, provides financial assistance to voluntary organisations working for the upliftment and betterment of women for the prevention of atrocities against women for items such as propaganda, publicity and research work. Various items of education work such as production and publicity materials like pamphlets, booklets, hoardings, posters, slogans, surveys/studies on particular aspect of violence/atrocities against women qualify for financial assistance under this scheme. During the year 1999-2000, an amount of Rs.
30.00 lakhs has been earmarked for this Scheme.
The Commission has been instrumental in introducing fresh ideas, innovative model, training, packages, model for speedy justice etc. The Commission has, before it, apart from looking into the law and legislation for effecting improvement to ensure speedy justice, thrust areas in the realm of:- (a) Organising through NGOs Parivrik Mahila Lok Adalats
throughout the length and breadth of the country on a continuous basis.
The Government has finalized a Plan of Action to combat trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of women and children. The State Governments and UT Administrations have been requested to implement the Plan of Action. The Central Advisory Committee on Child Prostitution proposed certain amendments in the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act to make it more stringent and effective, which was referred to the Department of Legal Affairs who have concurred with the same. A draft Cabinet Note on the same lines has been prepared and will be sent to the Cabinet Secretariat after circulating it to concerned Ministries/ Departments. India has drafted a Regional Convention on prevention and combating trafficking of women and children for the purposes of prostitution. The Convention seeks to take measures and encourage cooperation among the SAARC member countries to prevent the incidence of trafficking; this is specially relevant because Nepal and Bangladesh are the major source areas. The Convention is expected to be signed in the next SAARC Summit. A Work Plan under
the GOI-UNICEF MPO has been finalized. Funds have been earmarked for various activities
such as projects for rehabilitation of victims of prostitution, preparation of manual for
senstisation of police officers, building of a data base on the subject matter of
prostitution and trafficking, holding of regional level meet for interaction with State
Governments close to source areas and NGOs. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated 13.8.1997
has passed an order laying down the norms and guide lines to be followed by the employers
for tackling the incidents of sexual harassment of women at workplace and other
institutions. The guidelines issued by the Supreme Court included setting up of a
complaints redressal forum in all work places and amendment of the disciplinary/conduct
rules governing employees by incorporating the norms and guide- lines. The Department has
circulated the Supreme Court’s order to all Ministries/ Departments of the Government
of India, Women Development Corporations and National Commission for Women for compliance.
A Complaints Committee for handling the complaints regarding sexual harassment of women at
workplace has been constituted in the Department in compliance of the directions of the
Supreme Court.
As a follow up action to the commitments made by India
during the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing during Sep. 1995, the
Department has drafted a National Policy for the Empowerment of Women after nation-wide
consultations to enhance the status of women in all walks of life on par with men
and actualize the constitutional guarantee of equality without discrimination on
grounds of sex. The draft policy was considered by a core group of Experts in its meeting
held on 8.11.1995. The draft policy was circulated to select women organizations for
holding regional level consultations with State Governments, State Women Commissions,
State Social Welfare Advisory Boards, Women’s Organisations, Academicians, experts
and activists. These women’s organizations completed the process of regional level
consultations in December, 1995. A meeting of the Secretaries of States dealing with women
Development/Social Welfare Departments was held on 27.12.1995 to consider the draft
National Policy for the Empowerment of Women. The draft National Policy was also discussed
in a meeting of the committee of Secretaries in the meeting held on 7.3.1996. The
reformulated National Policy was discussed in the Parliament- ary consultative committee
attached to the Ministry of Human Resource Develop- ment on 17.12.96 and 13.02.97. The
comments/ views of the concerned Central Ministries/Departments were obtained and
the revised policy document prepared on the basis of comments received from other
Ministries/ Departments was sent to the Cabinet Secretariat on 30th June, 1999
for obtaining Cabinet’s approval for the Policy. The Cabinet Secretariat has
suggested that the process of inter- departmental consultations in the matter may be
completed after formation of the new Government. The process of consultation has already
been initiated.
The Department of Women and Child Development is reviewing the following four Acts with which it is administratively concerned: with a view to make the provisions more stringent and to remove the lacunae:
The Department of WCD had entrusted the work of reviewing the Indecent Representation of
Women(Prohibition) Act, 1986 and Immoral (Traffic) Prevention Act, 1956 to the National
Law School of India, University (NLSUI), Bangalore. The reports received from the National
Law School in this regard were been sent to NCW for comments. On the basis of the comments
received from NCW with regard to the amendments suggested by the National Law School of
India in the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, the Department has prepared a draft
Cabinet Note, which will be circulated to the concerned Ministries/ Departments after
formation of the new Government. The comments of NCW with regard to the NLSUI’s
report on the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 has been received
and the matter is under examination. In respect of the other two legislations, namely,
Dowry Prohibition Act and Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, inter- ministerial
consultations are being held to bring about the amendments. WOMEN’S COMPONENT PLAN
AND GENDER FOCAL POINTS
The Planning Commission, with a view to
converge the benefits in the social and economic development sectors for women in the 9th
Plan had requested all the Secretaries of the various Ministries and Departments of the
Government of India to draw up a women’s component plan to identify allocation in all
the sectors at the Centre by aggregating them in an integrated manner. In this context,
the Minister for Human Resource Development had requested all the Ministers for their
personal intervention in the matter of inclusion of an identifiable women component plan
in the programmes of the respective Ministries/Departments right from the planning process
and thereafter to monitor allocations and implementation of programmes to ensure the reach
of benefits to women. The Cabinet approved one of the recommendations of the National
Perspective Plan for Women (1988-2000), which says that the Planning Commission and all
the Ministries/ Departments should have a women cell and the annual Reports of all the
Ministries/ Departments at the Central and State levels should document and review the
work done concerning women. The Department, accordingly, requested all the
Ministries/Departments to set up advisory committees for women in each sector to help in
the preparation, monitoring and implementation of the women component plan, to set up a
women’s cell, to set up gender focal point and to include a chapter on women
component plan in their annual reports.
BALIKA SAMRIDDHI YOJANAThe scheme of Balika Samriddhi Yojana was launched on 2nd October 1997 with the objective of raising the overall status of the girl child and bringing about a positive change in family and community attitudes towards her. The scheme covers up to two girl children born on or after 15th April 1997 in a family living below the poverty line as defined by the Government of India in any rural or urban area. During 1997-98 and 1998-99, the mothers of the newborn girl children covered under the scheme were given a grant of Rs.500/- each in cash. The benefits and means of delivery have been redesigned in the current financial year ( 1999-2000). The post- delivery grant of Rs.500/- will now be deposited in an interest- bearing account in a bank or post office in the name of the girl child. In addition, the girl child will now be entitled to receive scholarships for each class of study successfully completed by her, ranging from Rs.300/- for class I to Rs.1,000/- for class X. The scholarship amounts will also be deposited in the above account. The accumulated value of the deposits in the account will be payable to the girl child on her attaining the age of 18 years and having remained unmarried till then. The benefits can also be utilized to pay the premium on an insurance policy in the name of the girl child under the Bhagya- shree Balika Kalyan Bima Yojana and for purchase of textbooks or uniforms for the girl child. The scheme, under which
releases were made by the Department to district-level implementing agencies in 1997-98
and 1998-99, will now be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and funds will be
released to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for execution of the
scheme, largely through the ICDS infrastructure. A sum of Rs.40 crore has been allotted
for the scheme in BE 1999-2000.
SIXTH MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH
MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR WOMEN’S AFFAIRSThe meeting, which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 22nd to 25th August 1999, was postponed on account of the elections held to the Lok Sabha in September – October 1999. Fresh dates for the meeting are under consideration. 
BEIJING PLUS FIVE' REVIEWThe Fourth World Conference on Women which was held in Beijing, China during September 1995 had adopted a `Beijing Declaration’ and a `Platform for Action’ (PFA) as an agenda for women’s empowerment. The PFA calls upon the Governments, the international community and civil society, including non- governmental organizations and the private sector, to take strategic action in twelve critical areas of concern, namely, women and poverty, education and training of women, women and health, violence against women, women and armed conflict, women and the economy, women in power and decision making, institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, human rights of women, women and the media, women and natural resources & environment and the girl-child. A special session of the UN General Assembly will be held at the United Nations, New York in June 2000 to review and assess the status of implementation of the PFA, five years since the Beijing Conference. The Department has initiated the process of review of the progress made in the country in the implement- ation of the PFA. Besides collecting information from various other Ministries/Departments of the Government and the State Governments /Union Territory Administrations, a feedback questionnaire was sent to NGOs active in the field of gender justice and women’s empowerment to obtain information on their work in the field and their perception of the scenario. The Beijing Plus Five India Country Report is presently under preparation. The following other significant activities have been held in this connection:- i) A SAARC Workshop on Follow-up Action on the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in New Delhi on 28th and 29th September 1999 in which all the SAARC countries participated. ii) A High Level Intergovernmental Meeting
was held by ESCAP in Bangkok, Thailand during 26-29 October 1999 to review the regional
implement- ation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action in the Asia and
the Pacific. A six member inter-ministerial delegation from India led by the Secretary in
the Department participated in the meeting.
THE UN CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN (CEDAW)India’s first report on implementation of the provisions of the Convention (which is available on the Internet) is scheduled to be presented and considered at the UN on 24th and 31st January 2000. The implementation report has been updated for the purpose.
The coverage of the project which was Mahendergarh District and 70 villages of Rewari District in the first phase has been extended to the whole of Rewari District in the second phase. The components of the project are The Department will be holding a tripartite meeting in
February 2000 with Government of Haryana and UNFPA to review the performance of the
project based on the annual project reports for 1998 and 1999
Since the existing Indira Mahila Yojana does not have funds for capacity building and training input, it was decided by the Department to formulate an independent project called ‘Training for Women’s Empowerment’, and implement it on pilot basis in 21 blocks of Maharashtra, with the assistance of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The strategy would, thereafter, be evaluated and reviewed for implementation throughout the country. This Project is mainly aims at operationalising the first phase of IMY, viz. Awareness building and sensitisation amongst women’s groups. The crucial activities to be undertaken as a part of this project, include:
Steps taken to implement the Scheme A pre-project workshop was carried out in December 1997, to identify the training material available. A Project launch workshop was held in September 1998, in which the Chief Executive Officers of the concerned districts were sensitised. The villages and the partner NGOs were also identified. Furthermore, the Mahila Mahiti Kendra was put in place, to plug the information needs of the women. A block level information officer (BLIO) has been appointed for this purpose. In this context, a 2-day Communication Training for the BLIOs was conducted in Aug. 99. Three trainings for trainers have taken place at Nasik (April 99), Mumbai (May 99) and Nagpur (July 99). These trainings were instrumental in training the master trainers teams (consisting of Anganwadi supervisors, NGO functionaries, ACDPO/CDPO) from 10 blocks out of the 21 under this project. An amount of Rs. 27 lakh was released as an advance for implementing the Project during 1997-98. In the RE 1998-99, an amount of Rs. 0.50 crore is provided. However, due to a shift in the implementation schedule, this amount was surrendered. With the initial support from the Government and the financial support provided by UNFPA under the said Project, it is expected that the women’s groups and their federations will consolidate their position. As a result of the information provided through the MMK and the supportive training input, these groups will not only facilitate accountability at the grassroots, but would also allow convergence of inter-sectoral schemes. Furthermore, at the end of the Project, every IMBS will be having a large number of IMKs who would be supported by highly trained animators and motivated members. These IMKs and IMBSs would then be able to work as strong and active NGOs. It is expected that the project will be able to develop a training strategy and support material that could be replicated in other parts of the country. FUNDING Self-Help Groups have emerged as one of the major strategies in group formation and various schemes of the Govt. of India have shown that strong women's groups could contribute substantially to the development and convergence of services and activities. Experience with various programmes and projects has highlighted the benefits of formation of women's groups for building confidence and focussing on developmental tasks. Different groups in various states all over the country have focused on skill development and awareness generation, promoting economic development through income generation activities, inclucating thrift, credit management activities among poor women. The experience of running these schemes had shown that the sustainability of the majority of these groups was a major problems and one of the prime reasons for that was lack of a proper training strategy. Because of incomplete or ineffective training, full potential of women's groups formed in different states could not be realised. Many of the women's groups are neither homogenous nor sustainable. The vast geographical canvas also impedes transmission of messages in time and without distortion. The project called "Distance Education for Women's Development & Empowerment" aims to address some of these critical areas of concern. It is the first such programme of its kind in the country. The Scheme proposes to launch a certificate course by IGNOU to train a large mass of trainers from amongst village level implementors of the projects, their supervisors and district level functionaries. Such trainers after their successful participation in the project would be able to guide sustainable group formation work in their areas. Such an approach will also speed up the whole training process since as large number of centres could be activated simultaneously and the grassroot level trainers could be directly accessed. Considering about 7 lakh Government supported women's groups in the country at present, there will be a need of about 2.30 lakhs facilitators and 11,600 supervisory level functionaries who will require training on a best case scenario. The implementation of the project is being jointly undertaken by the Department of Women & Child Development, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Indian Satellite Research Organisation (ISRO). The Department of Women & Child Develop- ment would provide support of policy direction, sharing of available material and funds for the programme. The scheme would use IGNOU's experience in development and accreditation of software so that a standardised package consisting of self instructional print, audio and video material with tutorial support through tele- conferencing could be developed. ISRO will provide the satellite linkage for at least 80 hours per year for the programme and will arrange some of the hardware related support. There would be 7 training cycles in English and 5 cycles in Hindi during the next 5 years. The total cost of the project is about Rs.3.90 crore consisting of Rs.105 lakh towards hardware, Rs.166 lakh for software preparation and rest for printing, distribution and support services. The project also covers the installation of 150 units of receiving terminals with T.V. facilities and 250 new telephone connections at the identified centres. The Programme will be open to employees of
various Govt. bodies, NGO and students.
Assistance is extended to research and academic
institutions including Women's Studies Centers for production of materials of education
and publicity as well as research studies.
A National Resource Centre for Women as an autonomous body
with the objectives to orient and sensitize policy planners towards women's issues,
facilitating leadership training and creating a national data base in the field of women's
development is being set up with DANIDA assistance.
The Department
monitors the implementation of 27 Beneficiary Oriented Schemes for Women implemented by
different Central Departments and sends progress reports to the PMO every six months. NEED AND CONTEXT A project for women's development, with assistance from International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD), was initially taken up in Tamilnadu. That project, under implementation for the last 9 years, has shown significant results in so far as empowerment of women is concerned. IFAD initially offered to provide assistance for this new project, intended to be taken up in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. However, after seeing the quantum of external assistance desired for the project, IFAD persuaded the World Bank (IDA) for joint funding of the project. METHODOLOGY One of the tools for bringing about improvement in women's living conditions is to organize them into small, homogeneous groups for women's development and empowerment. Prospective beneficiaries will be women agriculturists or agricultural labours, having no access to be facilities for increasing productivity, skill upgradation, credit, particularly micro-credit, etc. The purpose is to bring women coming together in the form of groups an expose them to benefits of group dynamics. This process of formation, consolidation and use of women's groups will ultimately lead to development of women and their empowerment. The tasks involved include-
OBJECTIVES The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the processes, and create an environment, for empowerment of women. Specific objectives will be:
Rural Women Development and Empowerment Project
The Department has been exploring for some time past, the
possibility of a women's development project, with assistance from the various aid
agencies. The overall objective of the project is to launch a programme which strengthens
the processes to promote the social and economic development of women & rise an
environ- ment for social change to improve their quality of life. The project is proposed
to be taken up as a Central Plan Scheme for a period of 5 years. International Fund for
Agriculture Development (IFAD) and International Development agency (IDA) will jointly
fund the project cost. |
Under the
Scheme of `Construction /Expansion of Hostel Building for Working Women with a Day Care
Centre implemented by the Department of Women and Child Development , financial assistance
is given to voluntary organizations, local bodies and cooperative institutions engaged in
the field of women’s/ social welfare/ women’s education, Public Sector Under-
takings, Women Development Corporations, Educational Institutions and State Governments
for the construction of hostels for working women in order to enable women seek employment
and participate in technical training. The objective of the Scheme is to provide cheap and
safe hostel accommodation to employment women living out of their homes. The target
beneficiaries are single working women, widows, divorcee, separated and working women
whose husbands are out of town. Women getting training for employment and girl students
studying in post school professional courses are also to stay in the hostel.
The programme of STEP launched in 1987 aims to
upgrade the skills of poor and assetless women, mobilise, concentise and provide
employment to them on a sustainable basis in the traditional sectors of agriculture, small
animal husbandary, dairying, fisheries, handlooms, handicrafts.
The National
Commission for Women, a statutory body, set up under the National Commission
for Women Act, 1990 has a mandate to safeguard the rights and interests of women. The
Commission continued to pursue its mandated activities, namely review of laws,
interventions into specific individual complaints of atrocities and remedial action to
safeguard the interests of women, whatever appropriate and feasible. The Commission has
accorded highest priority to securing speedy justice to women.