Question : PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

(a) whether the Government has identified the number of widow/destitute/single/divorced/ abandoned/deserted/old women including those residing in various religious places and destitute children in the country, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the complaints of exploitation/sexual abuse of such women and children and their miserable condition have come to the notice of the Government during each of the last three years and the current year, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor alongwith the action taken/being taken by the Government on such complaints so far;

(c) whether the Government/National Commission for Women has conducted any enquiry/study in this regard, if so, the details and outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) the schemes/programmes being implemented by the Government for welfare, protection and rehabilitation of such women and children and imparting education and employment to them in the country along with the number of such women and children benefitted from the said schemes/ programmes in the country during the said period, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect the rights of such women and children and to provide adequate relief to them across the country?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a): Office of the Registrar General, India conducts decadal Population Census wherein data on all persons living in any part of India including religious places is collected. However, separate data specifically for those living in religious places is not collected in Census. A statement giving Census 2011 data on total female population, widowed, divorced, separated and women of 60 years and above is given at Annexure-I. Information on destitute women is not collected in Census. Information on destitute children is also not maintained centrally.

(b) & (c): National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has registered 31 complaints of exploitation and abuse of children in the Protection Homes/Child Care Institutions including orphanages during the last three years and the current year. State-/UT wise details are given at Annexure II A. Five complaints have been received in the Ministry since 2012 to till date regarding sexual exploitation of women inmates in Swadhar Homes and trafficking of women and children. Details of the complaints received are given at Annexure-II B.

Section 34(3) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (JJ Act) mandates all Child Care Institutions (CCIs) including homes of various types to be registered under the Act. The provisions of the JJ Act and the rules framed thereunder, inter-alia, provide for various mechanisms including inspection of CCIs, minimum standards of care etc., to keep a check on the functioning of these institutions.

National Commission for Women (NCW) has conducted an enquiry in the case of alleged atrocities meted out to women inmates of Swadhar home in Rohtak, Haryana. The State Government of Haryana is enjoined to act upon the recommendations contained in the enquiry report.

(d) & (e): The Government in the Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a shelter based rehabilitation scheme ‘Swadhar’ for women in difficult circumstances. The beneficiaries include widows deserted by their families and relatives and left uncared near religious places where they are victims of exploitation; women prisoners released from jails; women survivors of natural disasters; women victims of terrorist/extremist violence and similarly placed women in difficult circumstances, who do not have any family support and without any economic means for survival. The beneficiaries are provided with primary need of shelter, food, clothing, counseling, medical and legal aid as also skill upgradation for economic rehabilitation. 311 Swadhar Shelter Homes are functioning across the country .

Another shelter based scheme ‘Short Stay Home’ is being implemented by the Central Social Welfare Board under which 24 hours residential temporary accommodation, maintenance and rehabilitative services are provided to women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism etc. 322 Short Stay Homes are functioning across the country.

Under these schemes vocational training for economic rehabilitation is provided to the beneficiaries. Both these schemes are implemented mainly through the Non-Governmental organizations. The funds released to the implementing agencies and number of beneficiaries State/UT wise under Swadhar and Short Stay Homes alongwith beneficiaries are given in Annexure-III ‘A’ and Annexure III ‘B’ respectively.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is also implementing a centrally sponsored scheme viz. Integrated Child Protection Scheme for rehabilitation and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances including orphans. Under ICPS financial assistance is provided to State/UTs for setting up and maintenance of various types of homes.

Further , under Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP) scheme, grant is given to NGOs to provide skill upgradation training that give employment to women and to provide competencies and skills that enable women to become self employed entrepreneurs.

Apart from these, Ministry of Rural Development is administering the following two schemes:
i. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS). The eligible age is 40 years and the pension is Rs.300 per month. After attaining the age of 80 years, the beneficiary will get Rs.500/- per month.
ii. NREGA, under which willing persons including women are entitled to guaranteed 100 days employment during a year.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is also administering an Integrated Programme for Older Persons which is being implemented since 1992 with the objective of improving the quality of life of senior citizens including women by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care etc.