The Government has decided to celebrate next decade as ‘Girl Child Decade’. During the decade all necessary measures will be taken up to empower women. The Ministry has already taken up several initiatives, which include a national plan of action with measurable goals to be achieved by 2010. a Bill of prevention of sexual harassment at work place and framing of rule to protect from domestic violence. This was stated by the Minister of State of Women and Child Development, Smt. Renuka Chowdhury addressing the media persons on International Women Day here today.
Stressing the need of Gender equality she said that Progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment in India has been built upon strong commitments by the Government in accordance with the Constitutional framework of gender equality and affirmative action towards the underprivileged, and unflagging effort by the women's movement, Gender inequality arising out of social norms and cultural traditions has been addressed through a range of direct and indirect measures. The policy framework within which efforts are being made to ensure gender equality has been spelt out by the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001) and the Tenth Plan. The endeavor is to bring about gender justice and make de jure equality into de facto equality.
Mrs. Chowdhury said that a National Plan of Action to operationalise the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women has been drafted for submission to the Cabinet for approval. The Plan of Action contains concrete action points and measurable goals to be achieved by the year 2010 in all spheres of activity.
Minister said that several cutting edge measures have taken recently which include week-long programmes in various police stations in the country on the occasion of the International Women's Day, to instill confidence among women in dealing with the crimes committed against them. It has been specifically suggested by the Ministry that practical demonstrations may be held at the police stations to create awareness about mandatory provisions of registration of complaint, type of information necessary to file FIR, registration of cases under proper provisions of various laws and not under less serious sections, and women-friendly behaviour at the police stations.
Briefing the media persons about the provisions in the law for protection of women she said more employment avenues are being thrown up in the service sector in the era of globalization. To seize the opportunities so as to give a fillip to women's employment, arrangements have been tied up with other organisations/agencies. Linkages have been established with Maruti Udyog for training of women as drivers in public transport, with Apollo Hospitals for training in nursing, with Hyatt Regency Hotels for training in house-keeping, bakery and food preservation and with Delhi Police for training in Karate and self-defence techniques.
The Minister said that apart from the provisions contained in IPC and CrPC concerning crimes against women, there are nearly 42 laws, which have been identified as concerning women or impacting on them. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is administering 5 such laws. In addition, the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 has also been transferred to this Ministry from the Legislative Department.
The Ministry is contemplating amendment of the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 to make these laws serve their objects more purposefully. National Commission for Women is reviewing the Dowry (Prohibition) Act, 1961 also, she added.
A Bill on prevention of sexual harassment of women at workplace as proposed by the National Commission for Women is being considered for introduction in Parliament with the approval of the Cabinet. The Bill will replace the Supreme Court's guidelines in the Vishaka case.
A Bill to provide for compulsory registration of marriages has been received from the NCW and sent to the Legislative Department for consideration for enactment (marriage being a subject allocated to the Legislative Department). Compulsory registration of marriages will mainly benefit and empower women by helping address the problems of child marriage, bigamy and desertion.
Rules under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 are being framed so that the Act can be brought into force. Among other things, the rules will lay down the details of appointment of Protection Officer and registration of service providers. They will also prescribe various forms under the Act.
A draft scheme for relief and rehabilitation of victims of rape has been drafted in pursuance of a directive of the Supreme Court (1994). Among other things, the scheme envisages payment of compensation to the victims of rape. The Scheme has been sent to the Planning Commission for 'in principle' approval.
The Minister Informed on the basis of recommendations of the Law Commission, the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 was amended in the year 2005, nearly 50 years after enactment of the Act, in order to establish gender parity in the property laws governing the Hindu society. By virtue of the amendments made in the Act in 2005, females (including widows of male coparceners who have remarried) can inherit in the ancestral property on the same footing as their male counterparts. A female heir can also ask for partition of the property of a joint family. The provisions of the Act also now cover agricultural holdings.
NCJ/DT
(Release ID :16358)