Lok Sabha Question No. 396 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: International Women’s Day
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 396* TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020

## INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

- *396.  SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government observed International Women's Day recently;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  theme  of  the  event  and  initiatives undertaken by the Government to make the event successful;
- (c) the  number  of  programmes  organized  and  expenditure  incurred  for  this purpose;
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls in the country;
- (e) the total number of single women in the country as per Census 2011; and
- (f) the  details  of  the  schemes  implemented/steps  taken  by  the  Government  to empower single women in vulnerable circumstances along with the achievements thereof so far?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  396  FOR  20.03.2020  ASKED  BY  SHRI  GAJANAN  KIRTIKAR  AND  SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA REGARDING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

(a) to (c):  This year, the Government of India celebrated the International Women's Day with high level of enthusiasm, participation and outreach. The events this year saw convergence of activities  between  various  Ministries,  Departments  and  organisations.  Several  events  and activities were organised across the country on 8 th March, 2020 and also in the run up to the International  Women's  Day,  including  activities  by  the  States  and  UTs  as  well  as  the autonomous  bodies  and  associated  organisations  of  Ministries  on  various  themes  touching upon  the  lives  of  women.  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  requested  all Ministries/  Departments to celebrate  International  Women's Day as well as the  week in the run-up  to  it  to  generate  awareness  and  to  highlight  the  initiatives  and  achievements  of  the Government  in  relation  to  empowerment  and  other  themes  and  areas  pertaining  to  women. Similar  requests  were  made  to  all  States  and  UTs  as  well.  They  were  also  requested  to undertake and highlight  initiatives  for  eliminating  gender  based  discrimination  and  violence for bringing about a perceptible and positive shift towards greater empowerment of women in all  domains.  Beginning  1 st March,  2020,  a  seven  days  campaign  on  seven  verticals  namely Education; Urban Women; Empowerment of Women; Skills & Entrepreneurship; Women in special circumstances viz Divyang, women from North-East & Islands, Tribal Women; Rural Women & Agriculture and Health & Nutrition was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child  Development.  The  events  under  these  verticals  were  organised  by  the  relevant Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations.

Many Ministries/ Departments/ States/ UTs have reported celebrating the day and the week in the run up to it, with high level of enthusiasm by organising workshops, seminars, rallies,  round  table  discussions,  inspirational  talks,  cultural  activities,  yoga  and  wellness sessions, exhibitions, debates, slogan/ essay writing, drawing competitions etc.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development and its associated organisations had organised  various  activities  either  on  their  own  or  in  collaboration  with  other  Ministries/ Departments/ organisations in the run-up to International women's day including Launch of University  Grant  Commission  (UGC)  Chairs  in  the  name  of  eminent  women  personalities, Nari  Shakti  Quiz   and  International  Women's  Day  Pledge  on  MyGov  platform,  Women Organic  Festival  in  collaboration  with  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI), Seminar  on  Women's  Economic  Empowerment  in  collaboration  with  the  World  Bank, Exhibition  on  Incredible  Journey  of  Women  Artisans  and  Weavers  at  Delhi  Haat  in collaboration  with  Ministry  of  Textiles,  Book  launch  on  verified  success  stories  under  Beti Bachao  Beti  Padhao  (BBBP)  on  the  theme  of  Chronicles  of  Change  Champions  etc.  An interactive  session  with  the  Foreign  Diplomats  was  organised  in  which  Minister  of  Women and  Child  Development  and  Minister  of  External  Affairs  jointly  addressed  diplomats  from various countries and informed them about India's initiatives and achievements in the field of women empowerment.

'Nari Shakti Puraskars' were conferred upon selected women by the Hon'ble President of  India  on  8 th March,  2020,  recognizing  the  exceptional  work  done  by  them  towards empowerment of women. The Ministry has also run an active awareness campaign through print,  electronic  and  social  media.  No  separate  budget  has  been  allocated  exclusively  for observing International Women's Day. However, a budget of Rs. 1.35 Crores has been kept for  Nari  Shakti  Puraskar.  The  Ministry  has  also  earmarked  Rs.  75  Crore  approx  on  media campaign and other associated activities for raising public awareness.

(d) to (f): As per the 2011 census data, the number of single women in the country was 59.36 Lakhs.

Ending gender based inequalities, discrimination and violence faced by girls and women is of  utmost  priority  for  the  Government.  The  Government  of  India  has  enacted  a  number  of legislations  to  address  gender  based  discrimination  such  as  the  Protection  of  Women  from Domestic  Violence  Act,  2005;  Dowry  Prohibition  Act,  1961;  Indecent  Representation  of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986; the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013; the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PCPNDT Act), The Code on Wages, 2019 among others. Further, through 73 rd -  74 th Amendment of the Constitution, it has been mandated to provide at least 33% reservation for women in the local governance.

The Government is also implementing various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana,  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana  (Urban  &  Rural),  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana (PMMY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Matru  Vandana  Yojna,  Ayushman  Bharat  programme  Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee Scheme  (MGNREGA),  Pt.  Deen  Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) etc which are helping in empowerment of women as well  as  in  ending  gender  based  discrimination.  Besides,  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development  is  also  implementing  schemes  of  One  Stop  Centre  and  Universalisation  of Women Helpline to provide support and assistance to women affected by violence. Further, the  Beti  Bachao  Beti  Badhao  scheme  is  being  implemented  for  addressing  the  issue  of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and empowerment of women on a life cycle continuum.  The Ministry is also implementing the scheme of Working Women's Hostels to provide safe and affordable  accommodation  to  working  women  and  National  Creche  Scheme  to  provide  day care facilities to children of age group of 6 months to 6 years of working women. The benefit under above schemes can be availed by all sections of the society including single women.

In order to help working women overcome the impediments caused by the lack of postmaternity  support  infrastructure,  the  Government  has  amended  the  Maternity  Benefit  Act, 1961 in the year 2017 which provides for increased paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks,  pre-natal  leave  from  6  weeks  to  8  weeks,  provisions  for  facility  of  crèche  in  the establishments  having  50  or  more  employees,  time-off  for  feeding  children  and  permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 has been passed which declares pronouncement of instantaneous and irrevocable triple talaq by a Muslim husband as void and illegal.

Moreover, in order to ensure that the marital status of a woman does not come in the way of access to services or discrimination or hardship, the Passport rules as also Permanent Account  Number  (PAN) rules  have  been  amended  in  favour  of  single  mothers  whereby mentioning the father's name is no longer mandatory for a person whose mother was a single parent. These amendments send out a strong message towards gender equality, irrespective of marital status.

*******