(a) the status of National Policy on Women; and
(b) whether the Government has plans to undertake an analysis of existing laws in the country to remove laws which are discriminatory towards women in nature and ensure the principle of equality is achieved as enshrined in the Constitution?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b) :In the National Conference of State Secretaries, held recently on 13th and 14th November, 2019, various important issues relating to women directly/indirectly and related to the Draft ‘National Policy of Women’ were deliberated.
A number of legislations and schematic interventions have been put in place by the Government for empowerment of women. The Ministry of Women and Child Development have enacted various special laws relating to women such as ‘The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005’; ‘The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961’; ‘The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986’; ‘The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006’ and ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’. Further, analysis and evaluation of existing laws, rules, and policies is a continuous process and it has been the endeavour of the Government to harmonize the policy in accordance with the Constitutional provisions.