Government initiates to combat sexual crimes against women

Government initiates time-bound action plan to strengthen the police and administration to combat sexual crimes against women

The Government has initiated a time bound action plan to combat crimes against women. A number of steps have been outlined to improve and strengthen the police and administrative system to ensure that crimes against the women are prevented through quick action, a gender sensitive response mechanism and greater accountability of the enforcement agencies.

The Ordinance promulgated by the President on February 3, 2013 deals with the amendments in the criminal law. These measures are in addition to the Ordinance and cut across various ministries.

The Cabinet Secretary has held a series of meetings recently with senior officials of the concerned Ministries to formulate an action plan within an indicated time frame. Secretaries of seven key ministries have been directed to personally monitor the implementation of these measures and report every month to the Cabinet Secretary and the Prime Minister’s Office. The measures outlined deal with changes in the police system, a review of the Motor Vehicles Act, measures to make responses to crimes against women efficient and sensitive and other administrative measures.

The steps outlined include the following:

1. NCRB will compile a database of persons convicted of criminal offences. The details of criminals convicted of crimes against women will be displayed on their website.

2. Action will be taken to provide the facility of registering an FIR in any police station irrespective of the jurisdiction or area of the time. The FIR may thereafter be transferred to the concerned police station for investigation. This will pertain to serious crimes including issues against women.

3. It is important that citizens should not face any harassment when they come forward to assist women in distress. For this, such citizens should be protected to enable them to freely report a crime and assist the victim/police without being subjected to any interrogation or being forced to become witnesses.

4. ‘Women Only’ buses should be pressed into service. A programme is proposed to be undertaken for encouraging more women driven buses/taxis all over the country.

5. The existing Motor Vehicle Regulations will be reviewed.

6. It has been reported that in some instances vehicles have factory-fitted glasses wherein the tint is more than the permissible limit. Secretary, MoRT&H, in consultation with technical experts and police representatives, will examine what should be the maximum permissible level of tinting in the glasses in public transport buses. The use of curtains will be reviewed taking into account the need for passenger comfort and visibility required for security purposes. MoRT&H proposes to appropriately revise the standards and ensure compliance by the manufacturers of these buses.

7. There is need for 100% verification for drivers/conductors/helpers (the entire crew) of the public transport vehicles, plying in Delhi in a time bound programme which will include collecting bio-metrics of all such persons as well. For this, action will be taken to review the relevant Rules for mandating the same. Ministry of Home Affairs would develop a protocol over a defined time frame, for verification of the crew of public transport vehicles and suitable advise the State Governments also to undertake the same. After the stipulated time frame, no public transport vehicle will be allowed to be driven/manned by any driver/conductor/helper or other crew member unless such a person has been verified and carries the verification certificate/identity permit.

8. Owners of buses will be held responsible for compliance of the steps outlined. It is also necessary to debar owners of vehicles involved in repeat offences from retaining existing permits/obtaining any fresh permits for plying public transport vehicles and for impounding of vehicles involved in repeat offences. MoRT&H/State Governments will initiate action in this regard. The particulars of the bus owner/drivers and details of permit and license shall be prominently displayed in the buses both inside and outside, at places where it is prominently visible in easily readable fonts. Use of GPS devices in all public transport vehicles is necessary along with setting up of a control room to monitor movement of buses. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways would issue an appropriate advisory to all the States in this regard.

9. There is need to increase the quantum of fines leviable on violation of permit conditions and to disallow compounding of offences beyond a certain number

10. Delhi Government will issue a draft notification for revising the permit for public transport vehicle incorporating provisions for disallowing use of inappropriate films and tinted glasses, higher punishment for repeat offences and other necessary measures. The final notification will be issued within a month.

11. Secretary, MoRT&H will write to all the States regarding the revision/changes in the Permit conditions being made by the Government of Delhi and request them to take similar measures.

12. At the time of inspection of police stations, it should be mandatory for the inspecting officer to specifically record his findings regarding the gender sensitivity of the personnel posted in the police station as well as the record of the police station/SHO in registering/investigating complaints of crimes against women, and for checking whether women are being discouraged from lodging complaints in the police stations.

13. Strict action will be taken against police personnel and officers found to be either displaying bias against women or neglecting their supervisory responsibilities in this regard.

14. There is a continual need for gender sensitization among the police force, particularly at the level of the constabulary on beat duty or at the police stations. There is need for impressing that there has to be a complete cessation of gender insensitive comments. For this, training courses need to be organized on a regular basis by the police. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against any official indulging in gender bias. Action taken in this regard has to be reported at every level. If action is not found to be taken against an erring official, the supervisory officer will be held accountable. Instructions in this regard will be issued and compliance ensured.

15. At all levels, it will be made mandatory for a reporting officer to comment upon on the gender sensitivity of the police personnel reported upon in the Annual Performance Appraisal Report. It will be emphasized and ensured that remarks in this regard are based on specific instances of behavior and are not reduced to a ritualistic yes/no. When considering postings or promotions of police personnel, the attitude towards women should specifically be taken into account.

16. There is an imperative need to recruit more women in the police force. Women will need to be recruited in large numbers in the Delhi Police. MHA will take necessary action to obtain necessary approvals within this financial year. Action would, similarly, need to be taken in the States as well, to recruit more women in the police force. In order to incentivize the States in this regard, MHA will formulate a suitable proposal/scheme within four weeks and obtain necessary approvals.

17. There is need for additional PCR vans in Delhi. A proposal for 370 such vans has been sent by Delhi Police. Approval in this regard is proposed to be expedited within this financial year.

18. It would be proposed to have lady police personnel in at least some PCR vans, such as those deployed in the vicinity of educational institutions, cinema halls, malls and markets, as also the routes frequented by women employees of BPOs returning from work at night. Over time, it is planned to have some more ‘all women’ police stations.

19. It is also planned to further develop and promote community policing. This would not only augment the effectiveness of the police force but would also motivate the responsible persons in each locality to perform their duty as citizens.

20. A number of cameras are in the process of being installed and at present a CCTV system is functional at 34 markets and 4 border check posts in Delhi. There is, however, an imperative need to further increase the number of CCTVs in public places. For this, the police will elicit the cooperation of all stakeholders, such as traders’ associations, RWAs, managers of commercial/office buildings, malls, cinemas, NGOs, etc. who will be encouraged to install and maintain CCTVs of approved specifications in an outside their premises. Similar action also needs to be taken in all States.

21. There is a need for increased focus on street lighting in public places. Civic bodies must undertake a review of the existing facilities and strengthen these wherever required.

22. Department of Women and Child Development will implement a scheme to provide compensation to victims of sexual assault and also a scheme for setting up Crisis Response Centres in select hospitals to provide psychological and other assistance to the victims of sexual assault. The proposed scheme will be implemented in a pilot phase in 100 districts from 2013-14.

23. The Government proposes to put in place a countrywide three-digit number (such as 100) to respond to all emergency situations. This would be similar like 911 or 990 Emergency Management Systems in vogue in many developed countries. Such a service would be available to subscribers of all telecom service providers as at present there are different telephone numbers being used for responding to different situations or target groups. It is, therefore, proposed to have a system where there is a one point of contact available to a person in distress of any kind. Also, once a call is made to this number, the caller should not be asked to contact some other special/emergency number. Instead, the call should seamlessly be transferred from the single point of contact to the appropriate distress line. Ministry of Home Affairs in coordination with the D/o Telecom will, by the end of February 2013, come up with a basic concept note on how the system will be established and will operate.

24. In addition to the general emergency response helpline, there would be a helpline dedicated to responding to women in distress. This helpline should have a unique three digit number across the country. For this purpose, the number 181 may be operationalized all over the country.

25. The negative, stereotyped and/or indecent portrayal of women in movies, television shows and advertisements has been a matter of concern for long. It would be helpful if all stakeholders were to be continuously engaged with in this regard. There is also a need to have a sustained media campaign of public interest advertisements.

26. The role of value education in schools is recognized as being very important. However, merely prescribing it in the curricula/syllabus is not adequate. Teachers should be given training in value education. Sustained awareness campaigns on gender equality need to be undertaken in all schools and colleges and gender modules need to be integrated in the curriculum at every level.

27. It would be useful to impart training to girls in educational institutions in self defence/martial arts.

Ministry of Women and Child Development–Year end review 2012

The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, came into existence as a separate Ministry with effect from 30 January, 2006. It is the nodal Ministry for all matters relating to women and children. The prime functions of the Ministry include promoting the survival, protection, development and participation of women and children in a holistic manner.

The following have been the significant achievements of the Ministry in 2011-2012.

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

The health and security of the country’s children is integral to any vision for its progress and development. One of the issues marring the vision for the country’s children is the evil of child sexual abuse, and a special law - the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 - was passed by Parliament in May, 2012 to address this issue. The Act received the President’s assent on 19th June 2012 and was notified in the Gazette of India for public information on 20th June, 2012. The Act came into force on 14th of November, 2012, along with the rules framed under the Act.

The Act is gender-neutral and defines a child as any person below the age of eighteen years. It provides precise definitions for different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography. The Act provides for stringent punishment graded as per the gravity of the offence, with a maximum term of rigorous imprisonment for life for certain offences, and fine.

In keeping with the best international child protection standards, the Act provides for mandatory reporting of sexual offences. It also prescribes punishment for a person if he provides false information with the intention to defame any person, including a child. Most importantly, the Act provides for child-friendly procedures for reporting of offences, recording of evidence, investigation and trial.

Under Section 45 of the Act, the power to make rules rests with the Central Government. The rules framed under the Act provide for qualifications and experience of interpreters, translators, special educators, and experts; arrangements for care and protection and emergency medical treatment of the child; compensation payable to a child who has been the victim of a sexual offence; and the manner of periodic monitoring of the provisions of the Act by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights.

The rules rely on the structures established under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, such as Child Welfare Committees and District Child Protection Units, to make arrangements for the care and protection of the child and to ensure that the child is not re-victimised in the course of investigation and trial. They also provide that where a child is taken to a medical facility for emergency medical care, no magisterial requisition or other documentation may be demanded by such facility prior to rendering medical care. The rules also lay down criteria for award of compensation by the Special Court, which includes the gravity of the offence; loss of educational opportunity or employment as a result of the offence; and disability, disease or pregnancy suffered as a consequence of the offence. The compensation may be awarded at the interim stage as well as upon completion of trial.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

The ICDS Scheme has been under implementation since 1975. The challenges arising out of the present status of child health and nutrition has necessitated introduction of new interventions:

·      During the year more than 97 projects and 14486 AWCs made operational.

·      Proposal for Strengthening & Restructuring ICDS Scheme approved by the CCEA on 24.9.2012 and Administrative approval issued on 22.10.2012. The roll out is in process in the 200 identified high burden districts.

·      The IDA-assisted ‘ICDS Systems strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project’ (ISSNIP) approved by the CCEA on 4 th October 2012 for a total outlay of Rs. 2893 crore (with IDA share of Rs. 2023 crore equivalent to US$ 450 million ) for a seven  year period starting from the effectiveness of the project with an estimated cost of about Rs. 681.71 crore for phase 1 (3 years) and Rs. 2211.23 crore for phase 2 (4 years). The agreement with the World Bank was signed on 5.11.2012 and the project effectiveness has been notified on 26.11.2012 by the Department of External Affairs.

·      A framework for multi-sectoral programme to address maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high burdened districts prepared. A follow up meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Principal Secretary, PMO and it was decided to re-visit the concept in view of limited resources and thereafter process EFC and approvals.

·      A nation-wide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign against malnutrition was launched by the Hon’ble President of India at Vigyan Bhawan on 19th November 2012.

·      Finalisation of Draft ECCE Policy, Framework and field testing - National Consultation to finalise the Policy held on 29th October, 2012. Finalisation and approval of competent authority for draft ECCE policy is under process. For pilot testing process of National ECE Curriculum, Orientation workshop held for the States participating in the pilot test on 30-31 August 2012, state-specific (contextual) curriculum developed, training of functionaries is being conducted to develop their skills for transacting the curriculum of AWCs. Pilot testing of curriculum to commence from December, 2012.

·      Roll out of revised MIS – For roll-out of revised MIS in States/UTs, 22 States/UTs has been provided with state-specific print-ready formats of revised AWC Registers in local languages for printing of AWC Registers and Report formats. Three states viz. Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have completed the printing. Eleven states have initiated printing process and are at various stages of completion.

·      IVRS based monitoring of AWC key indicators – For piloting of IVRS based monitoring of AWCs in select projects in 21 states, as part of National Resource Platform (NRP), information from AWCs started and States are pursued to get higher saturation of data from AWCs in the system.

·      Web-based on-line monitoring of AWCs- For pilot testing of web-based on-line monitoring in select projects in 12 states, coding for AWCs being assigned. Data Entry software developed for input of AW-MPR, AW-ASR, CDPO-MPR & CDPO-ASR. Initially, pilot started with one project in Delhi.

Achievements under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)

The Integrated Child Protection Scheme is being implemented since 2009-10. All States have signed the MoU to implement the Scheme, except Jammu & Kashmir, and have commenced implementation. Considerable progress has been made in setting up of statutory structures, such as JJBs and CWCs, and existing institutional services and open shelters are being reviewed and upgraded for enhancement in quality of services. Dedicated Service Delivery Structure (SCPS, DCPUs and SARAs) have been set up by all major States and in most staff has already been appointed and trained. Locations covered by Childline services as well as number of registered adoption agencies have more than doubled after commencement of the implementation of ICPS. Already about 63,545 children are availing services under the Scheme.

As on date expenditure under the Scheme has been Rs. 163.51 crores.

The component wise status for which financial support is provided under ICPS is as follows:

2.  Dedicated Service Delivery Structures

ICPS provides for setting up of a dedicated service delivery structure, with a cadre of personnel exclusively working on planning, implementation and monitoring of the Scheme, so that maximum benefits can accrue to the children.  These include:

2.1  State Child Protection Society (SCPS): So far all States & UTs except Goa and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have set up SCPSs.

2.2  State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA): So far 24 States have set up SARAs in their State/UT.

2.3                    District Child Protection Units: 568 DCPUs have been set up so far.

3. Statutory Support Services

ICPS provides grants to the State Governments/UT Administrations for setting up and maintenance of statutory bodies under the JJ Act. These include:

3. 1  Child Welfare Committees (CWCs): Prior to implementation of ICPS 240 CWCs were functioning in the country. ICPS has given a fillip to this component and number of CWCs has gradually increased to 607.

3.2  Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs): Prior to implementation of ICPS 211 JJBs were functioning in the country which has gradually increased to 609 after introduction of ICPS.

3.3  Training of CWC and JJB members: A special thrust has been given to the training of CWC and JJB members through NIPCCD and State governments. In the current year so far, around 688 CWC members and 264 JJB  members have been trained.

4.Care, Support and Rehabilitation Services

ICPS provides grants for setting up and running either by themselves or through voluntary sector, various types of rehabilitation services for children in difficult circumstances. These include:

4.1  Open Shelters in Urban and Semi Urban Areas: So far 157 open shelters have been provided financial assistance under ICPS. Prior to implementation of ICPS, 90 Street Children projects (now open shelters) were supported by the Ministry.

4.2  Institutional Services: 1037 homes till date have been supported under the Scheme. Prior to implementation of ICPS, 1268 Homes of various types were supported by the Ministry. The number of Homes supported has reduced as many Homes were found underutilised and rationalisation exercise has been undertaken.

4.3  Family Based Non-Institutional Care:

Whereas institutional care would continue to be one of the major means for rehabilitation of children with no - or minimal - family support, ICPS seeks to promote family based care for all children through various interventions. These include: 

i) Adoption:  222 SAAs have been provided support under ICPS. Prior to implementation of ICPS, 71 Shishu Grehs (now SAAs) were supported by the Ministry.

ii) Sponsorship & Foster Care Fund: The sponsorship programme was piloted in Odisha and Gujarat and the number of children covered were 17 and 279 respectively. However, from 2012-13 it has been decided to provide Sponsorship fund to all the States through District Child Protection Units. Similarly, the Foster Care programme was being piloted in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Jharkhand. However, the guidelines for Foster Care have not been finalised as the reports from these States are not encouraging.

4.4     Emergency Outreach Services through Childline: This service has been expanded to 264 cities/districts of the country from 83 cities before implementation of ICPS.

5.   Other initiatives:

a) TrackChild: To enable monitoring of the progress of children availing services under ICPS on a realtime basis as well as facilitate matching of ‘missing’ and ‘found’ children, a software namely TrackChild, has been developed through NIC and its implementation has begun in fourteen pilot States after training of all stakeholders in these States including JJ/ICPS personnel as well as police officers. For this project, nodal officers have been appointed under the department implementing ICPS in 18 States and by the Police in all States.

To fast track the implementation of this software, the Ministry in association with MHA and NIC organised an All India Conference on 30th October, 2012 in which senior police officers (responsible for tracing missing persons) and senior officers from the departments of women and child of the State Governments were present.

b) Registration of Homes: In view of the recent spate of reports of abuse of children within institutions, considerable emphasis is being placed on registration of all Child Care Institutions under the JJ Act and formation of Inspection Committees, Management Committees and Children’s Committees. Many States have confirmed that the process of identification and registration is well underway.

c) Guidelines have been framed, piloted and finalised for Sponsorship and After Care components of the Scheme.

d) Keeping in view various incidents of irregular transfer of children from one State to another and their misuse and abuse thereafter, Standard Operation Procedures for transfer of children under the JJ Act, from one location and another have been developed and circulated to all State Governments for implementation.

e) Need assessment: The process of identifying the problems being faced by their children, and mapping the more susceptible areas, has been begun in most States. The States are also being urged, through regular interactions, to assess the needs of children through district-wise studies and draw up their implementation plans accordingly. 

f) Facilitating implementation by States/UTs: ICPS is a complex and multi-layered scheme and, therefore, the functionaries of both, the State/UT Governments, as well as the voluntary sector, require continuous hand-holding to understand various facets of the Scheme and implement them. The Ministry has attempted to facilitate implementation of the Scheme through regular interactions with them.

·         An inter-ministerial Project Approval Board has been set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, to review the implementation so far, appraise the financial proposals of the States/UTs and guide the States/ UTs for improving the services and 57 PAB meetings have been held so far. 

·         A separate web page has been created for ICPS containing details of the Scheme, relevant legislations and other important documents, minutes of PAB meetings, sanction letters, list of facilities supported under ICPS etc. 

·         To facilitate cross learning and document best practices, five regional consultations have been scheduled this year of which two have already been held.

·         Tools for facilitating the work of functionaries, such as templates for preparation of District Child Protection Plans, online facility for submission of financial proposals and monitoring data have also been developed. 

Achievements of the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW)

The National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) was launched by the Government of India on International Women’s Day in 2010 with the aim to strengthen overall processes that promote all-round development of women

It has the mandate to strengthen the inter-sector convergence; facilitate the process of coordinating all the women’s welfare and socio-economic development programmes across ministries and departments. The Mission aims to provide a single window service for all programmes run by the Government for Women under aegis of various Central Ministries.

In light with its mandate, the Mission has been named Mission Poorna Shakti, implying a vision for holistic empowerment of women. Progress of the NMEW till December, 2012 is as follows:

·         Constitution of National Mission Authority (NMA) headed by the Prime Minister of India, in September, 2010, is at the apex of the NMEW

·         National Resource Centre for Women (NRCW) functional with 31 gender experts

·         24 States have notified  State Mission Authority (SMA)

·         State Resource Centres for Women (SRCW) set up in 14 States

·         Constitution of Inter Ministerial Co-ordination Committee (IMCC) to review and identify inter ministerial issues related to women requiring convergence on a continuous basis

·         Constitution of Central Monitoring Committee under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister, Women and Child Development to monitor and assess the Mission’s progress and to ensure that objectives of the Mission are met

·         Pilot Convergence models in Dist. Pali, Rajasthan since Sep 17,2011 showing impressive results

·         2 Smaller scale Pilot convergence models launched in Dist. Kamrup, Assam

·         Six Regional Conferences held with all the States & UTs governments during the months of February April 2012

·         Action Plan being prepared for 2013-2014

·         PSK in Dist Jaintia hills, Meghalaya: Recruitment in process

·         11 thematic Pilots in collaboration with Partner Ministries, State Govts, CSOs launched on 18th Aug, 2012 which are showing progress

·         Gender Convergence Officer (GCO) appointed by 8 Partner Ministries

·         Charter of Collaboration signed and thematic convergence projects announced with eight partner organizations on 14th November, 2012 during the Opening Ceremony of Vatsalya Mela, 2012 with UNDP (India), UN Women, South Asia Regional Office, UNESCO, (India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka), CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd., Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, IIT Delhi, FICCI – FLO & Women Power Connect.

·         Consultation on Valuation of Women’s Unpaid Work organized in November, 2012 with eminent economists, gender experts and representatives from 14 partner Ministries.

·         A Series of three consultations held on “Designing a Social Inclusion Plan for Socially Marginalized and Excluded Population”

·         NMEW participation in Vatsalya Mela, 2012 and grand success of unique model of community participation named Nari ki Choupal

·         Literacy Mission Preraks, Anganwadi, ASHA, Poorna Shakti Kendra village co-ordinators and other grass root level workers to be termed as Ahimsa Messengers to work towards prevention of violence against women

·         Successful completion of Orientation programme for Nodal Officers of SRCW in December, 2012

·         A Stakeholder Dialogue held in collaboration with UN Women and Planning Commission on “No Policy is Gender Neutral” and Launch of 8 Policy Briefs in December, 2012.

Collaborating with 5 Partner Ministries:

Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)

·         Research Study of MGNREGA to identify low work participation of women

·         Visit to Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) districts of Kerala  & Andhra Pradesh to study best practices for convergence

Ministry of Labour & Employment (MOLE)

·         Two joint studies on “ Skill development programmes for women with different Ministries & their impact on women’s employment and identifying gaps”

·         Identifying constraints and barriers in women availing and accessing vocational  training institutes under DGE&T along with identification of new trades”

Ministry of Law & Justice (MoLJ)

·         Action Research proposal on Access to Justice by Women in 7 districts in 5  North Eastern States to which either Schedule 6 Applies/  excluded under Article 371 A of the constitution

Ministry of Human Resources Development (MoHRD)

·         Utilize the “Mahila Samakya” platform for building capacities of women

·         Recommendations of study on “An assessment of convergence of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan with selected Central and State Schemes” in Mewat district of Haryana shared with MHRD and Govt. of Harayana

·         In-house Communication Needs Assessment Study of Saakshar Bharat, a centrally sponsored scheme of Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to find out the gaps in the current communication strategy being used by the MHRD for the Saakshar Bharat programme and to suggest a more efficient and effective communication strategy for the same, so that more women at the grassroots enrol for the programme and are benefitted.

Ministry of Panchyati Raj (MOPR)

·         Pilots to address Declining Child Sex Ration in 12 gender critical districts. Recruitment process of Gender Convergence Officers for implementation of these projects is currently going on.

Action Research Studies:

·         Completion of a study to develop a ‘Communication Charter’ based on Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Study with Breakthrough in order to chalk out a cohesive communication strategy to address the problem of female foeticide or ‘Sex Selective Elimination’ (SSE).

·         Study on Access and Utilization of Government Schemes in Pali, Rajasthan

·         Study with Lawyers Collective Women’s Rights Initiative (LC) on monitoring and evaluation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Best Practices Manual to be launched in December

·         Review of concurrent evaluation reports  on Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP) to strengthen the program

·         Study on ‘Accessibility and utilization of basic services rendered to women of SC/ST community to meet their Rights and Entitlements. (Avinashlingam University, Coimbatore)

·         Gender Atlas of India: A Geo-spatial Perspective (by Delhi University)

·         Women and Multiple Vulnerabilities in an area of unrest: Key issues and challenges of Tribal women in Dumka and Jamtara of Jharkhand” (by PRIA)

·         In-house assessment of Labour Laws and impact on female workforce participation

·         Critical gender concerns of MGNREGA- Review of Research Studies

Activities in the Pipe Line

1.      Scaling up the Poorna Shakti Kendra (PSK) model in 20 districts across the country and roll out 50 thematic pilots across the country. The thematic models will cover a range of issues concerning women, however major focus will be on addressing the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). Districts showing declining CSR as per census 2011 will be targeted for focussed interventions.

2.      A mass movement to address Violence Against Women called “Ahimsa Messenger”, using the platform of convergence projects, both the PSK models and thematic pilots will be initiated. The mass movement in coordination with multiple stakeholders will involve men, women and young persons at the grassroots levels to undertake the mission of spreading the message about domestic violence, dowry, female foeticide, child marriage, trafficking of women and girls for commercial sexual and other forms of exploitation.

3.      Raise important issues concerning women in the State Mission Authority (SMA), under the Chief Ministers of respective States to bring about Policy and Programmatic changes as shown by the States of Goa and West Bengal.

4.      Strengthen and build capacities of the State Resource Centres for Women (SRCW) to develop detailed Action Plan for the activities in the State. 

5.      Implement initiatives for training PSK coordinators on Legal Rights of Women in 150 Gram Panchayats of Dist Pali, Rajasthan.

Achievements under the IGMSY and SABLA schemes:

Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY)

·         Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme introduced in the year 2010-11. 

·         The Scheme envisages providing cash directly to P&L women during pregnancy and lactation in response to individual fulfilling specific conditions. The scheme addresses short term income support objectives with long term objective of behaviour and attitudinal change and also attempts to partly compensate for wage loss to Pregnant & lactating women both prior to and after delivery of the child.

·         The beneficiraies are paid Rs. 4000/ in three instalments between the second trimester of pregnancy till the child attains the age of 6 months on fulfilling specific conditions related to maternal and child health (All Government/PSUs (Central & State) employees are excluded from the scheme as they are entitled for paid maternity leave). 

·         Anganwadi worker (AWW) and Anganwadi helper (AWH) receives an incentive of Rs.200/- and Rs. 100/- respectively per P & L woman after all the due cash transfers to the beneficiary are complete.

·         In 2012-13, as per information furnished by States/UTs, progressive achievement up to 30.09.2012 is  2.6 lakh.

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) – Sabla

·         Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for empowerment of adolescent girls – Sabla was introduced on a pilot basis in 2010 and is operational in 205 selected districts across the country. Sabla aims at all-round development of adolescent girls of 11-18 years with a focus on all out-of-school adolescent girls. The scheme has two major components Nutrition and Non Nutrition Component.

·         Nutrition of 600 calories and 18-20 grams of protein per beneficiary  per day for 300 days in a year  is given to 11-14 years out of school girls and to all girls of 14 -18 years (out of school and in school girls).

·         In the Non Nutrition Component, out of school adolescent girls of 11-18 years are being provided IFA supplementation, health check-up & referral services, nutrition & health education, ARSH counseling/guidance on family welfare, life skill education, guidance on accessing public services and vocational training (only 16-18 year old adolescent girls).

·        Against the budgetary outlay of Rs 517 crore for 2012-13, total releases made to the States/UTS  is Rs. 265 crore .

·         Against the target of one crore beneficiaries for nutrition component under Sabla in 2012-13,  as per information furnished by States/UTs, progressive achievement up to 30.09.2012 is  83.14 lakh.

The other achievements and initiatives taken by the M/O WCD are as follows:

1.      Constitution of the High Level Committee to study the Status of Women

The Government constituted a High Level Committee on Status of Women in February 2012 to undertake a comprehensive study to understand the current status of women and evolve appropriate policy interventions based on  a contemporary assessment of women’s needs. The Committee is mandated to give its recommendations in two year’s  time.

2.      The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2012

The constitutional guarantee of gender equality includes protection from sexual harassment and the right to work with dignity. To provide a safe and secure environment to women at the workplace, a Bill was piloted by this Ministry for protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 3rd September, 2012. The Bill is now expected to be taken up for consideration and passing in the Rajya Sabha in the Budget Session, 2013.

The Bill once enacted, would improve women’s participation in the workforce resulting in their empowerment and inclusive growth.

3.      Amendments in the Indecent Representation of Women ( Prohibition ) Act (IRWA), 1986

This Ministry has proposed amendments in the IRWA, 1986 to cover newer forms of communication such as internet and satellite based communication, multi-media messaging, cable television etc and to make the Act more effective by enhancing the quantum of punishment for violating  provisions of the Act. The Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha in the Winter Session of the Parliament.

4.      Measures taken to address problems of declining child sex ratio

The Ministry celebrated the National Girl Child Day on 24.1.2012, during which inter alia a Panel discussion on reasons for and measures to be taken for arresting the declining child sex ratio, measured as the number of girl children in the age group of 0 to 6 years as compared to boys, was held.

The Ministry set up a Sectoral Innovation Council in 2012 to suggest measures to improve CSR, which has since given its report.

Recently the Ministry has also set up an Inter-Ministerial Working Group to draw up a National Plan of Action for improving CSR in a time bound manner, which had its first meeting on 26.12.2012.

5. Core Group on Child Marriage

A Core Group on Child Marriage was set up by this Ministry in February 2012 under whose oversight, a National Consultation on Child Marriage was held in May 2012. The Core Group has,in December 2012,come out with a draft National Strategy to address the problem of Child Marriage.

6. Initiatives on Prevention of Trafficking and Related matters

The Central Advisory Committee on Trafficking held a meeting in May 2012.

A number of meetings of the Project Sanctioning Committee to clear the pendency of project proposals under Ujjawala Scheme were held, including through video conferencing.

The Ministry proactively filed an application, [in Criminal Appeal Case No 135/20101- Budhadev Karmaskar case] for modification of Supreme Court panel term of reference that sought to make conditions “conducive” for sex workers who continue voluntarily in the profession, and got a clarification from the Apex Court that the Supreme court is not in favour of legalising prostitution.

The Ministry set up an Inter-ministerial Group to suggest amendments in Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956. The IMG has submitted its report on 7 December 2012.

7. Gender Responsive Parliament

In September 2012, for the first time, this Ministry has suggested a definition of Gender Sensitive Parliament as input of India for further consideration and debate by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Scheme for Providing free Sanitary pads in Rural areas

Use of sanitary napkins during monthly periods is poor in rural areas.

Links are clear between poor menstrual hygiene and urinary & reproductive tract infections.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene among adolescent girls in the age-group of 10 to 19 years in rural areas in 2010. The key objectives of the scheme are to increase awareness among adolescent girls on Menstrual Hygiene, to increase access to and use of quality sanitary napkins to adolescent girls in rural areas and to ensure safe disposal of sanitary napkins in an environmentally friendly manner.

In the first phase, the scheme has been initiated as a pilot to cover 25% of the country’s adolescent girl population (aged 10 to 19 years), i.e., 1.5 crore girls in 152 districts across 20 States, with centralised supply by the Government of India in 107 districts and through Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the remaining 45 districts. Implementation has currently started in 107 districts, covered under central supply. Under the scheme, sanitary napkins are sold to adolescents girls at the rate of Rs. 6 per pack of six napkins, i.e. Re. 1/- per sanitary napkin by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) every month under NRHM’s brand, ‘Freedays’

Girl Child Sex Ratio–Census 2011

The Ministry has noted with concern the continuing decline in Child sex ratio as per Census 2011. Although the overall sex ratio has increased from 927 in 2001 to 940 in 2011, child sex ratio (0-6 years) has declined from 927 females per thousand males in 2001 to 914 females per 1000 males in 2011 as per Census 2011. The data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation also points to a decline in child sex ratio in the ( 0-6 yrs) group.

As per UNICEF’s Coverage Evaluation Survey-2009 (CES-2009), 39% of children between 12-24 months in the country are not fully vaccinated with all vaccines under Universal Immunization Programme.

Reasons for partial or no immunization include the following:

(i) Did not feel need (ii) Not knowing about vaccine (iii) Not knowing where to go for immunization (iv) Time not convenient (v) Fear of side effects (vi) Do not have time (vii) Vaccine not available (viii) Place not convenient (ix) ANM absent (x) Long waiting time (xi) Place too far (xii) Service not available.

The Government of India has declared year 2012-13 as the year of intensification of Routine Immunization. Various steps have been taken under Immunization programme to increase coverage and these include need based Central funding and commodity assistance to States, support for logistics such as Alternate Vaccine Delivery (AVD), capacity building of service providers at all levels, strengthening reporting and management of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), Strengthen supportive supervision at all levels, involvement of ASHAs for social mobilization of children, carrying out immunization weeks in North Eastern States, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Intensified IEC/Behaviour change Communication, increasing community participation and strengthening the follow up of children through mother and child tracking system etc.

World Breastfeeding Conference 2012

Babies Need Mom-Made Not Man-Made

The global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival (gBICS), together with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Women and Child Development, is organizing a 4-day World Breastfeeding Conference – Babies Need Mom-made, Not Man-made, from 6th to 9th December, 2012, at New Delhi.

More than 900 experts from 86 countries, including more than 100 representatives from 50 governments, 30 UN representatives and 150 civil society groups will be coming together to discuss the important public health imperatives of how to increase breastfeeding rates, save mothers from the onslaught of the baby food industry, provide maternity protection for mothers and babies to stay together and evolve a universal service of skilled counselling accessible to all women.

A report “Are Our Babies Falling Through the Gaps? The State of Policies and Programme, Implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding in 51 Countries”

The report provides an objective score to 10 policy and programme areas based on the WHO’s Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (WHO 2002).

The conference will also made another report public on “Marketing Offenders” showcasing the large number of inappropriate promotional techniques used by the baby food industry to mislead people to use their products. That’s the crux of the conference tagline, “Babies Need Mom-made not Man-made.”

The Conference will position breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding interventions as a key to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals of reducing malnutrition and infant and child mortality.

According to WHO and UNICEF, following optimal feeding practices could save 1.5 million infants every year, because under-nutrition contributes to more than one-third of these deaths. Under-nutrition, particularly in children below two years of age, prevents them from reaching their full development potential as the brain develops almost 90% by that time. Breastfeeding has also been identified as a key intervention providing long-term health protection against childhood and adult obesity and lowered risk of diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases.

The Conference will bring together Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices’ success stories from Brazil, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Lalitpur (UP) and many more countries.

VATSALYA MELA

‘Safety and Protection of Women’ and ‘Child Rights’: theme for this Year’s VATSALYA MELA

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the Vatsalya Mela from 14-19 November 2012 at the Dilli Haat in New Delhi.  The theme for this year’s Mela is ‘Safety and Protection of Women’ and ‘Child Rights’. The inauguration of the Mela coincides with the ‘Children’s Day’, celebrated in memory of the birth anniversary of the first Prime of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru whose love and affection for children is well known.

As the name suggests, this Mela is organized in recognition of the love of the mother for the child. The Mela provides an opportunity to the Ministry and its attached organizations to showcase their activities and programmes and policies to the public. As many as 400 artisans, craftsmen and NGOs from different parts of the country who are working with the Ministry or its attached organizations are showcasing their activities this year. In addition, different activities are planned for all the six days of Mela. These activities have been arranged in cooperation with partner-NGOs working with this Ministry.

India's infant mortality rate drops

Dropping three points from 47 to 44 deaths per 1,000 live births, India's infant mortality rate has come down during 2011

India's infant mortality rate (IMR) has come down by three points from 47 to 44 deaths per 1,000 live births during 2011.

According to  the latest bulletin of the Sample Registration System (SRS) released by the Registrar General of India (RGI) shows that the IMR for rural areas has dropped by three points from 51 to 48 deaths per 1,000 live births while the urban rate now stands at 29 from the previous 31.

Among the states, Goa and Manipur have the lowest IMR of 11, followed by Kerala with 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Madhya Pradesh has the highest IMR of 59 per 1,000 live births followed by Uttar Pradesh and Odisha with 57 each.

Assam, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Meghalaya have IMRs higher than the national average of 44.

The SRS is a large-scale demographic survey for providing reliable annual estimates of birth rate, death rate and other fertility and mortality indicators at the national and sub-national levels.

The field investigation consists of continuous enumeration of births and deaths in selected sample units by anganwadi workers and teachers.

Amendments in the "Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986"

The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of Amendments to the "Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986" in Parliament.

Key amendments proposed are as follows:

i. Broaden the scope of the law to cover the audio-visual media and material in electronic form.

ii. Penalties to be enhanced to a maximum of three years of imprisonment and fine of between Rs.50,000 to Rs.1,00,000 for first conviction, and imprisonment of not less than two years, but which may extend to seven years, and a fine between Rs.1,00,000 to Rs.5,00,000 for second conviction.

(iii) Police officers not below the rank of Inspectors authorized to carry out search and seizure, in addition to State and Central Government officers authorized by the State or Central Government.

These amendments seek to ensure that more effective protection is provided against indecent representation of women by covering newer forms of communication like internet, multimedia messaging etc., beyond the print and audio-visual media. This would aid in addressing the problem of increased objectification of women thereby ensuring dignity of women.

 The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 (IRWA) focuses on indecent representation of women and brings under its ambit references that are derogatory to the dignity of women. The IRWA, 1986 was enacted with the specific objective of prohibiting the indecent representation of women through advertisement, publication, writing, and painting or in any other manner. The existing Act, in its present form, covers the print media. However, over the years, technological revolution has resulted in the development of newer forms of communication such as internet and satellite based communication, multi-media messaging, cable television etc. It has, therefore, become imperative to widen the scope of the law so as to cover such forms of media, on one hand, and to strengthen the existing safeguards to prevent indecent representation of women through any such form.

Background:

The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 was enacted with the objective of prohibiting indecent representation of women in any advertisement or publication. However, since the existing legislation lacks the focus that is necessary to protect women from exploitation, particularly in the face of the increasing use of advanced technology and communication devices in our everyday life, it was felt that the scope of the Act may need to be amended. Extensive consultations have been held with stakeholders including lawyers and civil society organizations on the draft Bill, before its finalization.

International Day of the Girl Child

On 17 November 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/66/170) designating 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child. Ending "child" marriage was chosen as the theme for the first International Day of the Girl Child.

Over 30% of girls in developing countries are married before 18 years of age; around 14% are married before the age of 15. Early marriage is a risk factor for early pregnancy and poor reproductive health outcomes. Furthermore it perpetuates the cycle of under-education and poverty.

The day will promote girls’ human rights, highlight gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and address the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the globe.

Speaking on the announcement, the UNGEI Secretariat Head Cheryl Gregory Faye said “This day acknowledges that despite progress achieved, discrimination and violence against girls and violations of their human rights still persist. We must continue to raise awareness of the challenges that millions of girls face every day simply trying to claim their right to an education and other rights.”

“With three years remaining, the costs of the failure to meet the Millennium Development Goal targets are high and will most likely be disproportionately borne by the world’s most vulnerable and poorest girls,” Faye continued. “Only through girls’ full and equal participation in all areas of life, starting with a quality education, can we hope to achieve gender equality and fundamental freedoms”.

Research has shown us that an extra year of schooling increase a girls’ eventual wages by 10 to 20 percent, ensures they marry later and have fewer, healthier children, who themselves get educated.

About UNGEI:

The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) is a partnership of organizations committed to narrowing the gender gap in primary and secondary education. It also seeks to ensure that, by 2015, all children complete primary schooling, with girls and boys having equal access to free, quality education. UNGEI was launched in 2000 at the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, by then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in response to a troubling reality: Of the millions of children worldwide who were not in school, more than half were girls – a reality that continues today.

V-Day

V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery.

Performance is just the beginning. V-Day stages large-scale benefits and produces innovative gatherings, films and campaigns to educate and change social attitudes towards violence against women including the documentary Until The Violence Stops; community briefings on the missing and murdered women of Juarez, Mexico; the December 2003 V-Day delegation trip to Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Jordan; the Afghan Women's Summit; the March 2004 delegation to India; the Stop Rape Contest; the Indian Country Project; Love Your Tree.

The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

Mission

V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.

V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.

V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.

V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.

V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.

V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.

Why V-Day Started

In 1994, a play called The Vagina Monologues, written by playwright and activist Eve Ensler, broke ground, offering to the world a piece of art like nothing it had seen before. Based on dozens of interviews Ensler conducted with women, the play addressed women's sexuality and the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse, creating a new conversation about and with women. The Vagina Monologues ran Off-Broadway for five years in New York and then toured the United States. After every performance, Ensler found women waiting to share their own stories of survival, leading her to see that The Vagina Monologues could be more than a moving work of art on violence; she divined that the performances could be a mechanism for moving people to act to end violence.

On Valentines Day, 1998, Eve, with a group of women in New York City, established V-Day. Set up as a 501(c)(3) and originally staffed by volunteers, the organization's seed money came from a star-studded, sold out benefit performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, a show that raised $250,000 in a single evening.

V-Day's mission is simple. It demands that violence against women and girls must end. To do this, once a year, in February, March, and April, Eve allows groups around the world to produce a performance of the play, as well as other works created by V-Day, and use the proceeds for local individual projects and programs that work to end violence against women and girls, often shelters and rape crisis centers. What began as one event in New York City in 1998 today includes over 5,800 V-Day events annually.

Performance is just the beginning. V-Day stages large-scale benefits and produces innovative gatherings, films and campaigns to educate and change social attitudes towards violence against women.

ONE BILLION RISING

ONE BILLION RISING

ABOUT ONE BILLION RISING

ONE IN THREE WOMEN ON THE PLANET WILL BE RAPED OR BEATEN IN HER LIFETIME.

ONE BILLION WOMEN VIOLATED IS AN ATROCITY

ONE BILLION WOMEN DANCING IS A REVOLUTION

On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 2.14.13, we are inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence. ONE BILLION RISING will move the earth, activating women and men across every country. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.

What does ONE BILLION look like? On February 14th, 2013, it will look like a REVOLUTION.

ONE BILLION RISING IS:

A global strike

An invitation to dance

A call to men and women to refuse to participate in the status quo until rape and rape culture ends.

An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers

A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given

A new time and a new way of being

Mission

V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.

V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.

V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.

V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.

V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.

V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.

Provisions in Laws for the Protection of Children

Provisions exist in laws for the protection of children both within and outside schools.

These include:

(i) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009: Section 17 of the Act provides that no child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment and whoever contravenes the provision shall be liable to disciplinary action. The States have notified Government orders prohibiting corporal punishment in schools. The National Commission for Protection of Children (NCPCR) has also issued guidelines on corporal punishment in August 2007 and again in May 2009 and March 2012. NCPCR also takes up complaints of violations of children’s right to protection in schools and outside the schools with the concerned authorities of the State Governments and UT Administrations from time to time for remedial measures.

(ii) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000: Section 23 of the Act provides that whoever, having the actual charge of or control over, a child, assaults, abandons, exposes or willfully neglects the child or causes or procures him to be assaulted, abandoned, exposed or neglected in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary mental or physical suffering shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to six months, or fine or with both.

(iii) The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences, 2012: The Act penalizes management or staff of an educational institution with higher punishment for committing sexual offences against children. The law helps in prevention of an offence, thereby protecting a child from sexual abuse.

(iv) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, prescribes norms and standards for a school. As per the latest figures available under the District Information System for Education (DISE) 2010-11, 80.87% schools have separate toilets for girls.

Gram Samanvayak officers in Gram Panchayats

Ministry for Rural Development announced a grant of Rs. 990 cr to the Ministry of Women and Child Development for the appointment of women ‘Gram Samanvayak’ officers in Gram Panchayats across the country.  1% of the budget of the Ministry of Rural Development will go towards the appointment of ‘Mahila Gram Samanvayaks’.

The National Mission of Women is like an umbrella, or a platform, for the convergence of programmes and schemes aimed at the socio-economic development of women, that are currently under different Ministries and departments. The National Women’s Mission began a unique initiative in 2011, a new model of ‘convergence centres’ for women, called ‘Poorna Shakti Kendras’ dedicated to helping women access the range of benefits made available to them through various government programmes, in select districts of the country. Young women from NMEW’s ‘Poorna Shakti Kendra’ at Pali that was set up an year ago as a pilot spoke about their experiences, along with the ‘Mahila Gram Samanvayak’ or Village coordinator.

The convergence between NMEW of the M/o WCD and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the launch of ‘Thematic Convergence’ pilot projects to address the grave issue of Declining Child Sex Ratio by working through the Panchayats. These pilots will be implemented in collaboration with partners like the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Law and Justice, Municipal Corporations of two districts in Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, M S Swaminathan Foundation, Breakthrough, Centre for Advocacy and Research and Mahila Samakhya.

National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW)

National Mission for Empowerment of Women

About the Mission

The National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) was launched by the Government of India on International Women’s Day in 2010 with the aim to strengthen overall processes that promote all-round development of women

It has the mandate to strengthen the inter-sector convergence; facilitate the process of coordinating all the women’s welfare and socio-economic development programmes across ministries and departments. The Mission aims to provide a single window service for all programmes run by the Government for Women under aegis of various Central Ministries.

In light with its mandate, the Mission has been named Mission Poorna Shakti, implying a vision for holistic empowerment of women.

The National Resource Centre for Women has been set up which functions as a national convergence centre for all schemes and programmes for women. It acts as a central repository of knowledge, information, research and data on all gender related issues and is the main body servicing the National and State Mission Authority.

Mission Statement

NMEW will achieve gender equality, and gender justice and holistic development of women through inter-sectoral convergence of programmes relating to women, forging synergy between various stakeholders and creating an enabling environment conducive to social change.

Focus areas of the Mission

Access to health, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for women

Coverage of all girls especially those belonging to vulnerable groups in schools from primary to class 12

Higher and Professional education for girls/women

Skill development, Micro credit, Vocational Training, Entrepreneurship, SHG development

Gender sensitization and dissemination of information

Taking steps to prevent crime against women and taking steps for a safe environment for women

Key Strategies

Facilitating inter-sector convergence of schemes meant for women, monitor and review the progress on regular basis

Strengthening institutional framework offering support service for women

At policy level commission research, evaluation studies, review schemes, programmes and legislation, do gender audit and outcome assessment to build the evidence for policy and programme reform and scale up implementation of the initiatives

Enhance economic empowerment of girls and women through skill development, micro credit, vocational training and entrepreneurship and SHG development

Evolve with the support of community representatives and groups appropriate and localized communication to strengthen public education on gender, behavior change and social mobilization using 360 degree approach on media and communication

Convergence Model

The CONVERGENCE MODEL is a project to test a model of delivery for convergent implementation of programmes intended for welfare and development of women. It has been originally intended to test this model in 30 districts spanning all states and UTs (Except Delhi), covering 640 identified villages. The model would include introduction of convergence cum facilitation centers at the district (few urban agglomerations), tehsil / ward and village/ area levels. The existing structural arrangements of participating departments wherever available shall be used and the PRIs shall be used as far as possible. The women centre at the village level, the first point of contact for women will be known as the POORNA SHAKTI KENDRA (PSK).

The Poorna Shakti Kendra (PSK) is the point of focal point action on ground through which the services to grassroots women would be facilitated. Village coordinators at the Kendras would reach out to the women with the motto "HUM SUNENGE NAARI KI BAAT!"

What the Kendra can offer?

Information on all the government schemes/services/programmes for women

Maintain a database of target population

Awareness generation on legal rights and entitlements

Facilitate the availability and access to government schemes/services/programmes across health, education and livelihood sectors

Training and capacity building on various issues like leadership, legal rights etc.

Organize women into collectives to access various resources

Coordinate the outreach of services of various departments

Schemes & Programmes
   

Poverty Alleviation and Economic Empowerment of Women

Assistance to States for Feed and Fodder Development
Schemes of Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying Fisheries
Scheme on Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture
Scheme on Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post harvest Operations
Scheme on Fisheries Training and Extension
Assistance to Cooperatives
National Bamboo Mission
Central Poultry Development Organisation
Development of Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post-Harvest Management
Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization through Training, Testing & Demonstration
Gramin Bhandaran Yojna
Capacity Building to enhance Competitiveness of Indian Agriculture and Registration of Organic Products
Technology Development and Transfer for Promotion of Horticulture
Marketing Assistance Scheme
Scheme of Support to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development
Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)
Performance & Credit Rating Scheme for Small Industries
Entrepreneurship Development Institutions (EDIs) Scheme
National Award Scheme/ Guidelines [Launched by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME)]
Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) for Technology Up gradation of the Small Scale Industries
Management Training Programmes
Scheme For Market Development Assistance For MSME Exporters
Credit Guarantee Cover Fund Scheme for Small Industries
Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana (RGUMY)
Raw Material Assistance Scheme
Bamboo Cultivation
Organic Farming
Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
Mushroom Farming
Scheme of Financial Assistance for Preparing Young Professional in Rural Areas
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
Pottery Technology
Technopreneur Promotion Programme
Consultancy Promotion Programme
Technology Development & Utilization Programme for Women
Industrial R&D Promotion Programme (IRDPP)
National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation
National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation
Marketing and Export Promotion Scheme
Grant in Aid Scheme - Export
Diversified Handloom Development Scheme (DHDS)
Grant in Aid Scheme - Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojna
Jute Manufactures Development Council Schemes
Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks
Grant in Aid Scheme - HRD Scheme
Technology Up gradation Fund Scheme
Technology Up gradation Fund Scheme (Handloom Sector)
Dairy/Poultry Venture Capital Fund
Assistance to Cooperatives Scheme
Strengthening Infrastructure for Quality & Clean Milk Production
Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme
Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC)
National Rural Drinking Water Programme
Mid Day Meal
Kishori Shakti Yogana
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY)
Old and Infirm Persons Annapurna
National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP)
Nutrition Education and Extension
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana(RSBY)
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) - A Conditional Maternity Benefit Scheme
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) Sabla
SwayamSiddha
Scheme for Working Women Hostel
Short Stay Home For Women and Girls (SSH)
STEP (Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women)

Social Empowerment And Education

Integrated Child Protection Scheme
Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Vocationalization of Secondary Education
Adult Education
Higher and Technical Education

Health & Nutrition

Integrated Child Development Scheme
Reproductive & Child Health Programme, Ph.II (RCH II)
National Rural Health Mission
Janani Suraksha Yojana
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY)
Integrated Child Protection Scheme
Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme
Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC)
National Rural Drinking Water Programme
Mid Day Meal
Sabla
Kishori Shakti Yogana
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY)
Old and Infirm Persons Annapurna
Food Security Mission
National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP)
Nutrition Education and Extension
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana(RSBY)
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Empowerment of Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups and Women in Difficult Circumstances

Schemes of National Scheduled Tribes Finance and development Corporation (NSTFDC)
Integrated Child Protection Scheme
Swadhar - A scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances
Ujjawala- A Scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Reintegration
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) - A Conditional Maternity Benefit Scheme
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) Sabla
Swayam Siddha 
Scheme for Working Women Hostel
STEP (Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women)
Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana
Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

Gram Samanvayak officers in Gram Panchayats