Question : National Policy for Women

(a) whether the Government proposes to bring National Policy for Women to enable them to attain equality in all spheres of life, if so, the details and the salient features thereof;

(b) the present status of the policy along with the time by which it is likely to be finalised;

(c) whether single women reportedly constitute 21 per cent of India’s female population and struggles with basic survival issues, like getting a flat on rent or being taken seriously as a start-up entrepreneur or getting a business loan and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to address the concerns of being single and female, in the new policy for women and if so, the details thereof;

(e) the measures being formulated to empower single women through skills development and economic incentives; and

(f) the steps taken/being taken to address concerns related to widows and universal health benefits extended to women?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Women and Child Development has prepared the draft National Policy for Women, 2017 after considering suggestions/comments received from stakeholders. The Draft envisions a society in which, women attain their full potential and are able to participate as equal partners in all spheres of life. The draft policy addresses the diverse needs of women through identified priority areas: (i)Health including food security and nutrition, (ii)Education, (iii) Economy (including agriculture industry, labour, employment, NRI women, soft power, service sector, science and technology), Violence against women, (iv) Governance and decision making (v) Violence Against Women (vi) Enabling environment (including housing, shelter and infrastructure, drinking water and sanitation, media and culture, sports and social security) (vii) Environment and climate change. The draft has been examined and approved by the Group of Ministers and has been submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.

(c) to (f) : There is no official information about single women and their struggle with basic survival issues. However, draft policy envisages efforts to be taken up to address the special needs of single women such as widows, separated, divorced, never-married and deserted women including women-headed households and single women living within households.
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