Professional Documents
Culture Documents
On
Women Welfare in India
Submitted To
Prof. Ajay Dixit
Submitted By
Kanika Jain (094223)
Parth Mair (094240)
Mrugit Gajjar (094242)
MBA (FBE &E) 20092009-11
Sector
Women Welfare in India
Nature of Problem
In India, policies and programmes of the government at different levels cover various
dimensions and strategies of gender development. Over the years, efforts have been made to
empower women socially, economically and politically. However, due to lack of synergy and
coordination, the achievements are not satisfactory. It is imperative that an integrated policy
and strategy be formulated to address economic, social and political issues related to women
along with the requisite programmes and schemes.
Though India has created protective legislations for women, the enactments have not been
easy to implement. The vastness of the country, the scattered nature of women workers, their
lack of education and legal literacy, the indifferent attitude of government bureaucracy have
all contributed to the continuing vulnerability of women. This is true not only of rural
unorganised women, but also of urban women workers. Although the Constitutional
commitments to women find reflections in the planning process, legislations, policies and
programmes of the Central and State Governments yet the current socio-economic status of
women is unsatisfactory in terms of almost all important indicators of human development.
Women as Workers
Women do more than
Women in India
Women as Workers
Female share of non-agricultural wage employment is only 17%.
Participation of women in the workforce is only 13.9% in the urban sector and 29.9%
in the rural sector.
Womens wage rates are, on an average only 75 % of mens wage rates and constitute
only 25% of the family income.
In no Indian State do women and men earn equal wages in agriculture.
Women occupy only 9% of parliamentary seats, less than 4% seats in High Courts
and Supreme Court. less than 3% administrators and managers are women.
Female Foeticide
Female foeticide in India increased by 49.2% between 1999-2000
According to NCRB Crime in India, 2002 the following crimes were committed
against women in India.
Rape
16,373 women were raped during the year
45 women were raped every day
1 woman was raped every 32 minutes
An increase of 6.7% in the incidents of rape was seen between 1997-2002
Incest
2.25% of the total rape cases, were cases of incest
Sexual Harassment
44,098 incidents of sexual harassment were reported.
121 women were sexually harassed every day
1 woman was sexually harassed every 12 minutes
An increase of 20.6% was seen in incidents of sexual harassment between 1997-2002
Importation of girls/Trafficking
11,332 women and girls were trafficked
Domestic Violence
49,237 women faced domestic violence in their marital homes.
135 women were tortured by their husbands and in-laws every day
1 woman faced torture in her marital relationship every 11 minutes
Domestic violence constitutes 33.3% of the total crimes against women
A steep rise of 34.5% in domestic violence cases was witnessed between 1997-2002
Suicide
12,134 women were driven to commit suicide due to dowry
1,10,424 housewives committed suicide between 1997-2001 and accounted for 52%
of the total female suicide victims
Sexual Abuse
Out of 600 women respondents
76% had been sexually abused in childhood or adolescence
Of Of Of the abusers
42% were uncle or cousin
Domestic Violence
Over 40% of married Indian women face physical abuse by their husband
1 in every 2 women faces domestic violence in any of its forms_physical, sexual,
psychological and/or economic
Statistics Annexure I
SwayamSiddha
Swadhar
The WCD Department with the ICDS and IWDS (Integrated Child Development Service and
Integrated Womens Development Service) functions for the Empowerment, upliftment and
welfare of Women and children under its various schemes. Initiated by GOI, the ICDS and
IWDS scheme was launched in 1975 and expanded to over 5000 + projects spread over 35
states benefiting 35 million children (0-6 years) and about 6.6 million pregnant and lactating
mothers through a network of 6 lac Anganwadi centres.
Family welfare, Education, Health, Nutrition and Health Education, Justice and equality, etc
are the various issues focused for the welfare of Women and Children. Economic and Social
empowerment of women with protection to Women from Domestic Violence, Rights of
Property by female members, Dowry Prohibition, Protection from sexual harassment,
indecent representation of women and many other women favoring actions are governed by
the department. Child marriage restraints, infant milk substitutes, bottle feeding and infant
food products monitoring, child care and protection are the many children related acts that
calls for action and supervision by the WCD.
The Department is sensitive in eliminating gender based discrimination from society through
gender sensitization and gender just development in Gujarat. It mainstreams women in
programs, plans, development and implementations by bridging the gap of gender bias. It has
fringed policies that ensure gender equality. For the family welfare, the department functions
for activities in coordination with other Departments and organizations in connection with
this subject. It plays a significant role for Socio-economic-educational welfare of Women and
children and imparts empowerment guidelines and awareness.
Gender Equality is accepted and incorporated in the overall development process and plans by
providing:
The Government of Gujarat decided to formulate the Nari Gaurav Niti (GEP) in the year 2002.
The State has sanctioned and announced the state policy for Gender Equity as Nari Gaurav
Niti. Gujarat Government formulated the Nari Gaurav Niti Policy with a view to create
awareness in all its Administrative Departments on the socio-economic-educational and
developmental sector of women and benefit them through the policy by active involvement of
departments for timely modus operandi.
It consists of action plans and monitoring mechanisms and addresses public as well as private
sectors. The autonomous Gender Resource Centre provides technical inputs in implementation
and monitoring of the policy at State level. Working groups are formed and a series of
deliberations take place on all aspects of gender equity and equality.
Balika Samruddhi Yojna Girl Child Development
WCD initiates Balika Samruddhi Yojna to change negative family and community attitudes
towards the girl child at birth and towards her mother, to improve enrolment and retention of girl
children in schools, to raise the marriage age of girls and to assist girls to socio-economiceducational upliftment. The Anganwadi (Kindergarten) workers provide aid to open any
nationalized Bank or Post Office Savings account with Rs.500/- to new born girls born to
families after August 15, 1997. While getting education, a sum of Rs.300/- to Rs.1000/scholarship is added to their account. Till the girl child becomes marriage age or up to 18 years,
she is eligible to get the sum.
Kishori Shakti Yojna Adolscents, Strenth and Awareness
An intervention for adolescent girls (11-18 years) the Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) was
launched in 2000-01 as part of the ICDS scheme. Kishori Shakti Yojana being implemented
through Anganwadi Centres in both rural and urban areas. The scheme aims at breaking the
intergenerational life-cycle of nutritional and gender disadvantage and providing a supportive
environment for self-development. The objectives of the Scheme are to improve the nutritional
and health status of girls in the age group of 11-18 years. A group of ten girls in a batch, who
would be expectant mothers in future, are given Health Check up by Anganwadi centres. They
are also provided required literacy and numeracy skills, stimulation to social exposure and
knowledge to help them improve their decision making skills. The adolescent girls are given
home based and vocational skills, awareness on health, hygiene, nutrition, family welfare, home
management and child care guidance with measures to facilitate marrying after marriage age of
18 years. They are encouraged for productive and constructive activities for their own
development as well as for their family.
Swayamsiddha (swayam or self and siddha the one who has proven capability or is
empowered) project was introduced by GOI during 2001 to 2002 replacing the erstwhile Indira
Mahila Yojana. The long term objective of the scheme is to achieve an all round empowerment
of women socio-economical-cultural empowerment by ensuring their direct access to, and
control over, resources through a sustained process of mobilization and convergence of all
ongoing sector programs. The WCD of Gujarat implements the policy to help rural women be
self reliant, gain confidence and learn the art of savings. It also focus on Community oriented
innovations, working in groups, building team spirit, mobilization of activities, gaining
knowledge and awareness to empower financially. This project is envisaged in 20 regions at 26
spots covering 1760 villages which include 43,200 women and 2700 initiating helpers. This
project has brought women into the mainstream of development in the rural areas of Gujarat.
The Department is sensitive towards women 18-40 years, who have lost their husbands and
initiates policy for their empowerment and economic living condition. For their economical
living, under Manav Garima Yojna, Rs. 3000/- margin money is given to help them stand on
their feet on their own and empower living. Women in the age group of 18-60 years are provided
monetary help by way of application. The applicant gets Rs.500/- and two children gets Rs.80/(per child) every month through Post Office.
Saraswati Sadhna Yojna
Introduced first in Gujarat, this is an innovative Go Green initiative of the WCD. Provision of
Rs. 1 crore has been made under Saraswati Sadhna Yojana to provide bicycles to Scheduled
Castes students by the Gujarat Government. A sum of Rs.1500/- is provided to girls below 8th
Grade to buy bicycle. Apart from this, provisions are made for students in elementary and high
school education to get food and lodging, free of cost.
Kunverbai nu Mameru scheme
WCD makes provisions for monetary help to scheduled caste for their daughters marriage under
Kunverbai nu mameru scheme. Those who gets an annual income of Rs.11,000/- can avail
Rs.5000/- for their one daughters marriage. For this, Rs.2000/- are given to girls
parents/guardian and Rs.3000/- is given to the girl in the form of Kisan Vikas Patra.
Saat Phera Samuh Yojna
Joint marriages are more economical through WCD schemes in Gujarat. Minimum five couples
and over, who get married from the scheduled caste whose family income is Rs.11000/- , the
couple gets Rs.5000/- in the form of Narmada Shreenidhi Certificate along with Merit
Certificate. For organizing the Samuh Lagna, (group marriage), a sum of Rs.1000/- is offered.
Mahila Vrudh Ashram
Old Parents are day by day being neglected by the Youth. As a result, the WCD has made special
arrangements for uncared women and foster their needs. State Government has set up Old Age
Homes for such destitute. Exclusive Women Old Age homes are structured with an exclusive
existing Home at Jamnagar.
Chiranjeevi Yojna
It is estimated that in the state of Gujarat about 1.2 million children are born each year. Some
mothers who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families are the most vulnerable to death
during delivery since they face significant risk owing to their poor socio-economic status and
limited access to healthcare services. The Chiranjeevi Yojana implemented by the
Government of Gujarat is aimed to encourage the BPL families to improve access to
Institutional delivery. Financial assistance is provided for protection to the BPL families,
covering their out-of-pocket costs incurred on travel to reach the healthcare facility centre.
Assistance of Rs.200/- for transportation expenses with Rs.50/- for the attendant is provided.
Approximately, 1,63,609 women have availed the benefit of this scheme.
The scheme also provides for financial support to the accompanying person for loss of wages.
Out of the many schemes, the main mechanism being used is the BPL card. The scheme was
launched as a one year pilot project in December 2005 in five backward districts viz.,
Banaskantha, Dahod, Kutch, Panchmahals, and Sabarkantha and covered all BPL families.
The scheme has now been extended to the entire state. When the scheme was initiated the
pilot districts were selected based on remoteness and included regions facing highest infant
mortality and maternal mortality. The private medical practitioners (mainly gynaecologists)
in these regions were empanelled in the scheme to provide maternity health services. These
providers are reimbursed a fixed rate for deliveries carried out by them.
Nari Adalat
The concept devised By women for women - the Nari Adalats is operational for legal
justice in over 19 regions in Gujarat. Women jurists dispense justice in womens cases of
divorce, abandonment, violence, rape and dowry demands. These courts are set up for women
empowerment and gender justice. These courts are not recognized by the State as a legal
forum. However, the autonomous hybrid institutions are para legal authority who solve
women cases faster than judicial courts. These courts are helping rural women overcome
problems encountered in the normal judicial system. Inaccessibility, cost, time, unfamiliarity
with legal procedures, inadequate resources, and a traditional disregard of the needs of
women all solutions get speedy, efficacy, and cost effective.
Sakhi Mandal Yojna
The Project is to enable the poor women, particularly in rural areas of Gujarat to improve
their access to resources and consequently strengthen livelihoods and quality of life. Sakhi
Mandals are formation of women self help groups based on thrift and credit principles. It
provides financial services to accelerate the process of economic development and ensure
welfare of women. They are encouraged to foster decision skills and develop a framework of
wider range of participation in micro finance development. In one year, the Gujarat
Government aims for one lac Sakhi Mandals across the state.
Krishi Talim Yojna
Krishi Talim Training in the field of Agriculture is imparted to Women Farmers and
Farmers wives for Research and use of latest technology. These Agricultural women are paid
stipend and transportation for the training course.
Fish Entrepreneur Yojna
Government encourages scheduled caste/tribe women to sell fishes to be self reliant. For the
purpose, required instruments and facility is provided to buy weighing machine, Insulated
box, etc. On average Rs.10,000/- Unit cost, 50% assistance is given to women belonging to
scheduled caste/tribe. Training is given to Women for growth of Zingo fishes under a ten
day course with Rs.100/- scholarship.
Apart from these Intiatives, the Educational Initiatives and Health Initiatives related to
Women and child are:
Kanya Kelavani Rath (Procession for Literacy of a Girl Child)
Educated Girl Child
Bal Pravesh
Mid-day Meal Schemes
Nirogi Bal
Vidhyalaxmi Bonds
Vidhya Deep Yojna
Teachers Training and Distance Teachers Training Program
The YWCA of India - NGOs Delhi : An umbrella organisation affiliated to the World
YWCA with 65 local associations in India. The organisation works for women's
empowerment through a variety of programmes , the most important of which are
leadership training for women, advocacy work on all women's issues, and community
development work . The YWCA also runs 40 women's residences across the country
providing housing for working women as well as emergency shelter for women. The
YWCA of India is also a part of a network of 7 women's organistions based in Delhi
and works together with them on common issues.
Women's Studies Unit, Mumbai The Women's Studies Unit attempts to sensitize
students and policymakers about women and development issues by teaching social
Majlis Mumbai Majlis is a legal and cultural resource centre working in the area of
women and minority rights. The legal centre of Majlis is a group of lawyers providing
legal assistance to women. Majlis is also involved in reasearch and documentation on
issues concerning women.
Streelekha, Banglore.