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Equality, Empowerment of Women, Womens Full Enjoyment of Human Rights are Basic Ingredients of
Development
Feature
Celebration of International
Womens Day
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Legal Framework
The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights,
Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the
State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women.
India has also ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal
rights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.The Mexico Plan of Action (1975), the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (1985), the
Beijing Declaration as well as the Platform for Action (1995) and the Outcome Document adopted by the UNGA Session on
Gender Equality and Development & Peace for the 21st century, titled "Further actions and initiatives to implement the
Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action" have been unreservedly endorsed by India for appropriate follow up.
Current Scenario
However, there still exists a wide gap between the goals enunciated in the Constitution, legislation, policies, plans,
programmes, and related mechanisms on the one hand and the situational reality of the status of women in India, on the
other.
Gender disparity manifests itself in various forms, the most obvious being the trend of continuously declining female
ratio in the population in the last few decades. Social stereotyping and violence at the domestic and societal levels are some
of the other manifestations. Discrimination against girl children, adolescent girls and women persists in parts of the
country. The underlying causes of gender inequality are related to social and economic structure, which is based on informal
and formal norms, and practices. Consequently, the access of women particularly those belonging to weaker sections
including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other backward Classes and minorities, majority of whom are in the rural
areas and in the informal, unorganized sector to education, health and productive resources, among others, is inadequate.
Therefore, they remain largely marginalized, poor and socially excluded.
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Within the framework of a democratic polity, our laws, development policies, Plans and programmes have aimed at
womens advancement in different spheres. From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards has seen a marked shift in the
approach to womens issues from welfare to development. In recent years, the empowerment of women has been recognized
as the central issue in determining the status of women. The National Commission for Women was set up by an Act of
Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the
Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women,
laying a strong foundation for their participation in decision making at the local levels.
The present Government has initiated a number of schemes and programmes,policy initiatives aimed at securing the
lives of women and girl child as part of Prime Ministers vision to take every citizen along in the countrys march towards
becoming a modern country. To name a few Swacch Bharat Mission, National Digital Literacy Mission, Beti Bachao Beti
Padhao (BBBP) Scheme and the PMs Jan Dhan Yojana, are expected to rejuvenate the socio-economic and political
mindset and landscape of this country. While the Swacch Bharat Mission can have a multiplier effect of not only usher in a
Clean India but can build a robust India which has an educated, healthy, happy population, Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Jan Yojana
envisages to empower every person by integrating him/her with the banking network in the country and also make him an
active beneficiary of the welfare largesse of the government through a transparent mechanism. Similarly many schemes
related to women health, nutrition, etc are restructured with a focus on women and girl children and adolescents. National
Digital Literacy Mission intends to transform India into a digitally empowered knowledge society.
Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu has stated
that central government is working on mandating 50 per cent reservation for women in all the urban local bodies of the
country, to promote their participation in urban policy making for developing engendered cities. He has stressed on the
need for imparting gender perspective to designing urban policies and programmes while inaugurating a two day
International Conference on Gender and Urban Poverty recently. The Minister further indicated the governments initiative
to focus on the basic toilet needs of women and provide one crore household toilets in urban areas under Swachh Bharat
Mission which on a conservative estimate will benefit over two crore women daily and promote engendered cities with the
objective of welfare of women through their participation.
Finance Minister Shri. Arun Jaitley has doubled the budget of the Nirbhaya fund to Rs.2,000 crore from Rs 1,000
crore this year. "The government is committed to safety and security of women, and another Rs.1,000 crore has been
allocated to the Nirbhaya Fund," said Jaitley while presenting the Union budget. Besides, the thought of incorporation of
special women force in Railway protection is an indication of Union Governments constructive approach towards security
and maintaining the dignity of women in India.
Besides, the thought of incorporation of special women force in Railway protection is an indication of Union Governments
constructive approach towards security and maintaining the dignity of women in India.
SS-293/SF-293/ 10.03.2015
YSK/ Uma
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