Lok Sabha Question No. 1827 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-27
Subject: Awareness Programmes on Women Related Issues
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, V. SATHYABAMA, PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1827

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

## AWARENESS PROGRAMMES ON WOMEN RELATED ISSUES

## 1827.   SHRI BHARATHI MOHANR.K.: SHRI K.N.RAMACHANDRAN: SHRIMATI V. SATHYABAMA: SHRI PR. SENTHILNATHAN:

Will the Minister of WOMEN ANDCHILD DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government isworking on micro levels particularly incities and IT parks  to  conduct  AwarenessProgrammes  on  women  related  issues  andto  curb  crime against women like sexualharassment, molestations, stalking andcyber abuse etc.;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not,the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  signedany  MoU  with  International  Agencies  andNonProfit  Organizations  to  createawareness  on  the  burning  issues  affectingwomen  and children and to curb the crimeagainst women; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and thetotal funds allocated for the same duringeach of the last three years, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a) to (d) : The Governmentis endeavouring to put in place effective mechanisms to curb crime  against  women  and  provide  safe  environmentfor  women.  The  Criminal  Law (Amendment), Act 2013 has been enacted making the punishment more stringent for offences  like  rape.  New  offences  like  acid  attack,  sexual  harassment,  voyeurism  and stalking,  disrobing  a  woman  have  been  incorporated  in  the  Indian  Penal  Code. Government  has  also  enacted  the  Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  at  Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and  Redressal)Act, 2013  to provide a safe and  secure environment  to women  at  the  workplace.Apart  from  the  above,  Criminal  Law (Amendment)  Ordinance,  2018  has  been  promulgated.    The  said  Ordinance  has increased the punishment from 7 years to rigorous imprisonment of minimum ten years, extending upto life imprisonment, along with fine.

Ministry of Home Affairs also issues advisories from time to time to the Statesto take concrete  steps  to  increase  awareness  in  the  administration  and  among  the  police  in particularfor  improving  general  awareness  on  legislations,  mechanisms  in  place  for safety  and  protection  of  women.  The  States  have  also  been  advised  to  explore  the possibility of associating NGOs working in the area of combating crime against women and to encourage Citizens groups and NGOs to increase awareness about gender issues in society.

States have also been advised to undertake extensive training programme especially to law  enforcement  personnel  to  raise  awareness  and  sensitivity  to  the  punitive  legal provision of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013. These advisories are available on www.mha.gov.in.

Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  not  signed  any  MoU  with international agencies and Non-Profit Organizations to create awareness in this regard, but continuously works with many such organizations in this regard .