Why have a bias in favour of women?
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A vital consideration in shaping women's policies is to increase their participation in the workforce. Benefits for doing so far outweigh the costs in terms of providing special economic and safety benefits. It is also true that women are financially vulnerable due to the way society has shaped their roles, and women and children are more vulnerable to certain crimes.
Women's Security & Empowerment
============================
(Extract from PM Modi's interview, August 12, 2018)
No country can progress if its women are not full partners in the development process. I think we all understand the need to change mindsets to ensure women are fully empowered -- through a secure, safe and enabling environment — to achieve their full potential, individually, economically and socially.
We understood this need to challenge and change traditional mindsets that tolerate or allow violence against women early. If you recall, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, was among the first programmes that this government launched. It addresses the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio -- violence against the girl child even before she is born -- and educating the girl child.
This is the first time in the history of independent India that we have two women in the Cabinet Committee on Security — the minister of external affairs and the Minister for Defence. Women have, for the first time, been inducted as fighter pilots in combat roles in the Indian Air Force. The Government of India is pushing hard to ensure that there are more women in the police force so that victims of gender violence can come forward and lodge complaints in a more supportive environment. Twenty-two states and Union Territories have extended 30% and more reservation to women in the police force. Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) act as a link between police and community and facilitate women in distress in accessing justice. More and more empowered women in non-traditional roles will act as role models and counter the mindset that objectifies women and limits their potential.
The empowerment of women is a central theme that runs through government programmes, even programmes that are not specifically titled as women’s programmes. We are consciously mainstreaming gender in our public policy. The steps taken include actions to improve the physical safety of women in public spaces, actions to enhance their ability to seek support, redressal and justice and their social and economic empowerment.
In order to assist women affected by violence, institutional support mechanisms like One-Stop Centres and women helplines have been set up in all states. These provide 24-hour emergency and non-emergency responses, including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid and counselling, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence.
The government has enacted a law to award the death penalty for the rape of a minor girl -- strengthening deterrence for those committing such barbaric acts. Concerned about barbaric acid attacks against women, the Government now provides financial assistance of R1 lakh (over and above the amount provided under the Victim Compensation Scheme) as an immediate temporary relief to survivors of acid attacks. Further, acid attack is now notified as a disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Over and above this, a special assistance of R5 lakh can now be provided by States/UTs for financing medical treatment of acid attack victims.
Under the Nirbhaya Fund for ensuring safety and security of women, Central Victim Compensation Fund has disbursed, for the first time, Rs 200 crore to States/UTs to support financial assistance to victims of various crimes.
An Integrated Emergency Response Management System will be completed by 2019 to provide round the clock security to women passengers at over 900 railway stations, through CCTV-based security. This measure is expected to help combat trafficking of women and children.
To create a gender-just and equal society, we need to address the attitudes of our young people -- both girls and boys. The programme ‘Gender Champion’ tries to make young boys and girls gender-sensitive and create positive social norms that value girls and their rights. As of now, 100 universities and 145 colleges are implementing this.
This government has never shied away from tough measures to protect the vulnerable. The triple talaq bill, that makes triple talaq and nikaah halala illegal, is in response to a long-standing injustice done to Muslim women in India. The anti-trafficking Bill, just passed by the Lok Sabha, attempts to address one of the most pervasive yet invisible crimes affecting the most vulnerable women and children.
According to the new Haj policy, for the first time, women above the age of 45 years can go for the pilgrimage without a ‘mehram’, or a male escort. This also is a harbinger of change, recognising women’s agency and modifying a practice that is centuries old.
Construction of toilets in millions under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, both in rural and semi-urban areas augments women safety and security because experience has shown that women are frequently subjected to sexual violence when they go out to defecate in the open, particularly in the dark. The rural sanitation coverage has improved from 39% to 71% and 1,472 cities have become ODF. Separate toilets for girls constructed in all government schools in mission mode will help reduce dropout of girl students.
Women’s health and their economic empowerment through facilitating their entry and retention in the workforce has received special attention. The newly amended Maternity Benefit Act statutorily increases maternity leave to 26 weeks and makes it mandatory for every establishment that has more than 50 employees (whether male or female) to offer creche facilities. This will ensure that working women are not compelled to drop out of the workforce on becoming pregnant. This will also ensure their continuation in the workforce by offering childcare and recognises that the father has an equal role in childrearing.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, every pregnant woman and lactating mother, except those in the organised sector covered by other maternity benefits, is entitled to maternity benefit for the first child in the family. This is expected to encourage health-seeking behaviour among women during pregnancy and also improve maternal and child health by incentivising early registration of pregnancy, institutional deliveries and immunization. The four phases of Mission Indradhanush have reached more than 25.3 million children and 6.8 million pregnant women with life-saving vaccines, increasing the rate of complete immunisation of pregnant women and children by five times.
Under the Ujjwala Scheme, free LPG connections have revolutionized the lives of poor women. It heralds freedom from smoky chulhas, persistent coughs and drudgery. More than 51.4 million LPG connections have been released to poor women so far.
There is a sizeable and rapid growth in financial inclusion of women, a cherished goal for decades. Under the Jan Dhan Yojana, more than 162.3 million women’s accounts have been opened – about 53% of total PMJDY accounts. The women’s share of total savings accounts increased from 28% in 2014 to 40% in 2017 (according to data from top 40 banks and RRBs). The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) has provided credit to small entrepreneurs without the need for collateral or a guarantor. Under this programme, it is seen that women are taking small loans, but in much larger numbers. More than 73% of the borrowers are women and loans worth Rs 2.95 lakh crore have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs. Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, there is a massive increase in access to credit by women SHGs. Since its inception in 2011, Rs 71,000 crore has been extended as bank credit to women in over 30 million families. More than 73% of this credit -- Rs 51,500 crore -- was given in the last two years. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), houses are allotted either in the name of the female head of the household or in the joint name of the woman and her husband, increasing the asset base of women.
I think the record clearly demonstrates this government’s consistent commitment to women’s empowerment. “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved,” said Dr. BR Ambedkar. We recognise that the quest for change in mindsets and evolution of a just and equitable society, is a continuous process, and we are fully committed to it.
Women & Child Safety Intiative in Tier 1 & 2 cities
===============================
https://plus.google.com/100789863972538583352/posts/DStKUmZqggd
==========================
A vital consideration in shaping women's policies is to increase their participation in the workforce. Benefits for doing so far outweigh the costs in terms of providing special economic and safety benefits. It is also true that women are financially vulnerable due to the way society has shaped their roles, and women and children are more vulnerable to certain crimes.
Women's Security & Empowerment
============================
(Extract from PM Modi's interview, August 12, 2018)
No country can progress if its women are not full partners in the development process. I think we all understand the need to change mindsets to ensure women are fully empowered -- through a secure, safe and enabling environment — to achieve their full potential, individually, economically and socially.
We understood this need to challenge and change traditional mindsets that tolerate or allow violence against women early. If you recall, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, was among the first programmes that this government launched. It addresses the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio -- violence against the girl child even before she is born -- and educating the girl child.
This is the first time in the history of independent India that we have two women in the Cabinet Committee on Security — the minister of external affairs and the Minister for Defence. Women have, for the first time, been inducted as fighter pilots in combat roles in the Indian Air Force. The Government of India is pushing hard to ensure that there are more women in the police force so that victims of gender violence can come forward and lodge complaints in a more supportive environment. Twenty-two states and Union Territories have extended 30% and more reservation to women in the police force. Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) act as a link between police and community and facilitate women in distress in accessing justice. More and more empowered women in non-traditional roles will act as role models and counter the mindset that objectifies women and limits their potential.
The empowerment of women is a central theme that runs through government programmes, even programmes that are not specifically titled as women’s programmes. We are consciously mainstreaming gender in our public policy. The steps taken include actions to improve the physical safety of women in public spaces, actions to enhance their ability to seek support, redressal and justice and their social and economic empowerment.
In order to assist women affected by violence, institutional support mechanisms like One-Stop Centres and women helplines have been set up in all states. These provide 24-hour emergency and non-emergency responses, including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid and counselling, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence.
The government has enacted a law to award the death penalty for the rape of a minor girl -- strengthening deterrence for those committing such barbaric acts. Concerned about barbaric acid attacks against women, the Government now provides financial assistance of R1 lakh (over and above the amount provided under the Victim Compensation Scheme) as an immediate temporary relief to survivors of acid attacks. Further, acid attack is now notified as a disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Over and above this, a special assistance of R5 lakh can now be provided by States/UTs for financing medical treatment of acid attack victims.
Under the Nirbhaya Fund for ensuring safety and security of women, Central Victim Compensation Fund has disbursed, for the first time, Rs 200 crore to States/UTs to support financial assistance to victims of various crimes.
An Integrated Emergency Response Management System will be completed by 2019 to provide round the clock security to women passengers at over 900 railway stations, through CCTV-based security. This measure is expected to help combat trafficking of women and children.
To create a gender-just and equal society, we need to address the attitudes of our young people -- both girls and boys. The programme ‘Gender Champion’ tries to make young boys and girls gender-sensitive and create positive social norms that value girls and their rights. As of now, 100 universities and 145 colleges are implementing this.
This government has never shied away from tough measures to protect the vulnerable. The triple talaq bill, that makes triple talaq and nikaah halala illegal, is in response to a long-standing injustice done to Muslim women in India. The anti-trafficking Bill, just passed by the Lok Sabha, attempts to address one of the most pervasive yet invisible crimes affecting the most vulnerable women and children.
According to the new Haj policy, for the first time, women above the age of 45 years can go for the pilgrimage without a ‘mehram’, or a male escort. This also is a harbinger of change, recognising women’s agency and modifying a practice that is centuries old.
Construction of toilets in millions under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, both in rural and semi-urban areas augments women safety and security because experience has shown that women are frequently subjected to sexual violence when they go out to defecate in the open, particularly in the dark. The rural sanitation coverage has improved from 39% to 71% and 1,472 cities have become ODF. Separate toilets for girls constructed in all government schools in mission mode will help reduce dropout of girl students.
Women’s health and their economic empowerment through facilitating their entry and retention in the workforce has received special attention. The newly amended Maternity Benefit Act statutorily increases maternity leave to 26 weeks and makes it mandatory for every establishment that has more than 50 employees (whether male or female) to offer creche facilities. This will ensure that working women are not compelled to drop out of the workforce on becoming pregnant. This will also ensure their continuation in the workforce by offering childcare and recognises that the father has an equal role in childrearing.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, every pregnant woman and lactating mother, except those in the organised sector covered by other maternity benefits, is entitled to maternity benefit for the first child in the family. This is expected to encourage health-seeking behaviour among women during pregnancy and also improve maternal and child health by incentivising early registration of pregnancy, institutional deliveries and immunization. The four phases of Mission Indradhanush have reached more than 25.3 million children and 6.8 million pregnant women with life-saving vaccines, increasing the rate of complete immunisation of pregnant women and children by five times.
Under the Ujjwala Scheme, free LPG connections have revolutionized the lives of poor women. It heralds freedom from smoky chulhas, persistent coughs and drudgery. More than 51.4 million LPG connections have been released to poor women so far.
There is a sizeable and rapid growth in financial inclusion of women, a cherished goal for decades. Under the Jan Dhan Yojana, more than 162.3 million women’s accounts have been opened – about 53% of total PMJDY accounts. The women’s share of total savings accounts increased from 28% in 2014 to 40% in 2017 (according to data from top 40 banks and RRBs). The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) has provided credit to small entrepreneurs without the need for collateral or a guarantor. Under this programme, it is seen that women are taking small loans, but in much larger numbers. More than 73% of the borrowers are women and loans worth Rs 2.95 lakh crore have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs. Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, there is a massive increase in access to credit by women SHGs. Since its inception in 2011, Rs 71,000 crore has been extended as bank credit to women in over 30 million families. More than 73% of this credit -- Rs 51,500 crore -- was given in the last two years. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), houses are allotted either in the name of the female head of the household or in the joint name of the woman and her husband, increasing the asset base of women.
I think the record clearly demonstrates this government’s consistent commitment to women’s empowerment. “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved,” said Dr. BR Ambedkar. We recognise that the quest for change in mindsets and evolution of a just and equitable society, is a continuous process, and we are fully committed to it.
Women & Child Safety Intiative in Tier 1 & 2 cities
===============================
https://plus.google.com/100789863972538583352/posts/DStKUmZqggd
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