Lok Sabha Question No. 394 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Gender Sensitization
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 394 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2019

## GENDER SENSITIZATION

394. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the prevalence of various forms of gender discrimination like sex discrimination, female  infanticide,  dowry,  female  illiteracy  and  crimes  against  women  have  increased over  the  period  of  time  in  educational  institutes,  workplaces  and  various  other  public organizations in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  plans  to  introduce  gender  sensitization  as  a  part  of  primary education in India, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the details of long-term and short-term solutions being acted upon by the Government to eliminate gender inequalities and prevent crimes against women in India?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 394 FOR 19.07.2019 ASKED BY SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH REGARDING 'GENDER SENSITIZATION'

- (a) & (b):  Government of  India  is  implementing  various  programs/schemes  and  legislations  to  address various  forms  of  gender  discrimination.  The  root  cause  of  gender  discrimination  is  the  patriarchal mindset  prevalent  in  the  Indian  society.  Though  this  mindset  is  changing  with  urbanization  and education, still there is long way to go for a permanent change in the scenario. Sex ratio at birth has improved from 918 in 2014-15 to 931 in 2018-19 and female literacy rate has increased from 55.1% in 2004-05 to 68.4% in 2015-16. As per NCRB data, which is available up to 2016, 339457, 329243 and 338954  cases  were  registered  as  crime  against  women  in  the  years  2014,  2015  and  2016 respectively.  Over  the  years  various  legislations  have  been  enacted.  In  the  changed  environment, now more and more women are accessing criminal justice system to complain against the harassment suffered in educational institutes, workplaces and various other public organizations in India.
- (c) The National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  has  developed  syllabus  and textbooks  across  the  subjects  to  promote  gender  sensitization  in  the  school  curriculum.  The  text books at all stages of school education prioritise gender sensitization in designing of activities/exercises.  Gender sensitive messages have been incorporated in the inside of cover pages of the textbooks and the other supplementary material. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has  also  prepared  guidelines  for  gender  sensitivity  in  textbooks  and  textual  material,  including question papers.
- (d) The  Government  of  India  has  already  enacted  a  number  of  legislations  to  prevent  exploitation/ harassment of women and to address the issues of discrimination and gender disparity. These include 'The  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009',  'The  Criminal  Law (Amendment) Act, 2013', 'The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005', 'The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961', 'The 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', 'The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976', 'The Maternity Benefit (Amendment)  Act,  2017'  and  the  73 rd   -  74 th   Amendment  of  the  Constitution  mandating  33% reservation for women in the local governance. The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 has been enacted making the punishment more stringent for offences like rape, sexual assaults, etc.

The Government of India is implementing various schemes/programmes to overcome gender disparity  and  provide  equal  status  to  women  in  the  country.  The  schemes  being  implemented  by Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  for  welfare  of  women  are  i)  Beti  Bacho  Beti  Padhao (BBBP) to improve the Child Sex Ratio and enabling education for the girl children, ii) Swadhar Greh Scheme to provide relief and rehabilitation to destitute women and women in distress, iii) Ujjawala a Comprehensive Scheme for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, iv) Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to provide loan  to  poor  women  through  Intermediary  Microfinancing  Organisations  (IMOs),  Non-Governmental Organisations  (NGOs)  to  promote  their  socio-economic  development,  v)  Working  Women  Hostels (WWH) for  ensuring  safe  accommodation  for  women  working  away  from  their  place  of  residence. Apart from the above, Ministry of Women and Child Development is also implementing Scheme of 'One  Stop  Centre'  to  provide  integrated  support  and  assistance  to  women  affected  by  violence, Scheme  for  'Universalisation  of  Women  Helpline'  intended  to  provide  24  hours  immediate  and emergency  response  to  women  affected  by  violence  and  Scheme  of  'Mahila  Police  Volunteers'  in which MPVs act as a link between police and community and help women in distress.

Further,  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  in  collaboration  with  National  Gender Centre (NGC), Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie has organised  Gender  Sensitization  programmes  during  the  last  year  for  the  officers  including  District Magistrates, Officers from Judiciary Services.

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