(a) whether the Government/Ministry has proposed to review the existing laws and regulations on discrimination against women with a view to empower women in society;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of funds allocated and utilised on various programmes/schemes being implemented to remove discrimination against women during each of the last three years and the current year; and
(d) the other steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)
(a) & (b) No Madam. However, the Ministry regularly reviews the implementation of various legislations and if required, necessary amendments are carried out for effective implementation.
(c) & (d) Ending gender based inequities, discrimination and violence faced by girls and women in the country is of utmost priority for the Government. The Government of India has already enacted a number of legislations to address gender based discrimination. These include the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961; Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986; the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,2006 (PCMA), Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and 73rd – 74th Amendment of the Constitution mandating 33% reservation for women in the local governance. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 mandates the provision of free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6-14 years. Further, to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme has been initiated during 2014-2015 with a cost of Rs.199.99 Crore for a period of 2 year and 6 Month with the objectives to empowering the girl child and enabling her education through a mass campaign and focussed intervention in 100 critical districts with low CSR.
Apart from the above, Ministry of Women and Child Development is also implementing Scheme of One Stop Centre for Women affected by violence with total project cost of Rs. 18.58 crore (2½ Year) and Scheme for Universalisation of Women Helpline with a total project cost Rs. 69.49 crore (2½ Year) from the financial year 2015-16.
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