Department of Women and Child Development

Promoting Gender Equality

and Empowering Women

Department of Women & Child Development - Women Specific Mandate

Welfare of Family Women and Child Welfare and co-ordination of activities of other

Ministries and Organizations in connection with this subject References from the United Nations Organizations relating to

traffic in women and children Implementation of-

- The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (as amended upto 1986)

- The Indecent Representation of women (Prevention) Act, 1986

- The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (as amended upto 1986)

- The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987

Cont…..

Implementation of Women’s Development & Empowerment Programmes through

Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) National Institute of Public Cooperation

and Child Development (NIPCCD) National Commission for Women Rashtriya Mahila Kosh

Initiatives of the Department

• Increasing the coverage of programmes for affirmative action• Reviewing the laws to remove gender bias• Campaigning for equal rights for women to property• Enabling income-generating activities through credit facilities • Providing support services like day-care centres with creche

facilities, working women’s hostels etc• Formulating interventions aimed at holistic empowerment of

women through two prominent interventions viz. Swashakti and Swayamsidha.

National Policy for Empowerment --March 2001

Objectives : To bring about advancement,development and empowerment of

women To eliminate all forms of discrimination against women To ensure active participation of women in all spheres of life

Themes and Issues covered in Policy: Judicial legal system, Economic empowerment Social empowerment including health,education,violence,

science and technology, drinking water and sanitation. Women and decision making, media and girl child etc.

Five Year Plans

Commitments in the Ninth Five year Plan: Empowering women as agents of social change Adopting an integrated approach towards

empowering women through convergence of existence services

Adopting a special strategy of Women Component Plan

Organising women into SHG to mark the beginning of a major process of empowering women

Equipping women with skills in modern upcoming trades

Tenth Five year Plan

The approach continues with the major Strategy of Empowering Women as agents of Social change and development. Based on National Policy for Empowerment of Women Sector Specific three fold Strategy is adopted which includes:

Social Empowerment Economic Empowerment Gender Justice

Enactment & Implementation of Special laws concerning women

The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1886.

The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987. National Commission for Women Act, 1990 Protection from Domestic Violence Bill, 2002 Sexual Harassment of women at the workplace

and other Institutions – Implementation of Guidelines as per Supreme Court’s order.

Programmes for Equality and Women Empowerment

Swa Shakti(RWDEP) Swayamsiddha Support to Training & Employment

Programme(STEP) Swawlamban (NORAD)

Programmes for Equality and Women Empowerment

Hostels for Working Women Short Stay Homes Swadhar- A scheme for women in difficult

circumstances Creche for Children of Working and Ailing Women ICDS – Adolescent girls schemes – Kishori Shakti

Yojana and IFA supplementation Stree Shakti Puraskar

SWAYAMSIDHA

Integrated project for development and empowerment of women. Immediate objectives are;

Establishment of self-reliant women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs).

Creation of confidence and awareness among members of SHGs.

Strengthening and institutionalizing the savings habit in rural women and their control over economic resources.

Improving access of women to micro credit. Involvement of women in local level planning and Convergence of services of DWCD and other Departments.

Success of Swa Shakti Programme ---Approach

Formation of Self-Reliant women groups (SHGs), No subsidy provided.

Formation of networks of SHGs at Cluster and block levels

Providing needed inputs like savings, access to credit, skill development and micro-enterprise development to improve their livelihood.

Addressing problems like alcoholism,atrocities social evils , drudgery, health, etc.

Awareness generation regarding legal rights,laws confidence building, functional literacy and delivery of services.

Success of Swa Shakti Programme ---Approach

Facilitative,Participatory and non directive role of project functionaries

Ownership & control by women so that they can determine the form, nature, content & timing of all SHG activities

Promoting sustainable SHGs and clusters . Separate Project implementation unit at

Central,State and District level.

Success of Swa Shakti Programme ---Visible Outcomes

• Increased self confidence, self esteem & autonomy of women.

• SHGs and Clusters are acting as a platform where women could critically analyse their problems, identifying ways to overcome them.

• Ability to articulate needs, make demand and enforce rights both as an individual as well as in groups.Women are also striving collectively for social change.

• Increased access to and control over economic & social resources & the political process.

Success of Swa Shakti Programme ---Visible Outcomes

• Participation in Planning and decision making process at family and community levels

• Increased capacity of partner organisations and adoption of improved financial & managerial practices.

• Improved quality of life

• An international model in social development

Women able to voice basic needs and access services and resources

38

34.8

32

30.82

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Baseline 2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

Women having a say in deciding their daughter’s education

88

86.258

20.90.5

01020304050

60708090

100

Baseline 2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

Women are able to visit places outside the village on their own or in the company of other women

88

8762

43.724

01020304050

60708090

100

Baseline 2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

Members have access to safe drinking water

63

51

47

3324

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Baseline 2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

Average Saving per Group

113118887

59744635

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Sept' 01 Dec' 02 June' 03 March' 04

Am

ount

in R

s.

Average amount inter-loaned per Group

2661918425

1232410365

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Sept' 01 Dec' 02 June' 03 March' 04

Am

ount

in R

s.

Groups Channelised Benefits from other Programmes

29

28.8

28.3

7.1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

Dependence on Money Lenders

3

47

23

30.96

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Baseline 2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

Members Access to Sanitary Toilets

20

11

10

65

0

5

10

15

20

25

Baseline 2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

On-farm and Off-farm IGAs Initiated

6252.6

12.313.6

4948.4

6.65.50

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004

Per

cent

age

On-farm Off-farm

Common Minimum Programme - Initiatives

• To introduce legislation for one-third reservations for women in Vidhan Sabhas and in the Lok Sabha.

• Legislation on domestic violence and against gender discrimination will be enacted.

• Ensure one-third funds of Panchayat for programmes for women and children.

• Women and their association to be encouraged to assume responsibility for development schemes relating to water, sanitation, primary education, health and nutrition.

• Enact new legislation that gives women equal rights of ownership of assets.

• Major expansion in schemes for micro-finance based on self-help groups.

Thank you