Lok Sabha Question No. 3315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Participation of Women in Workforce
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Narendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO 3315

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2021

## PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN WORKFORCE

## †3315. SHRI NARENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to increase the participation of women in workforce and ensure women empowerment and safety;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps in this direction;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to (e) : In order to promote women empowerment and their safety to increase their participation in workforce, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to launch  a  new  and  more  comprehensive  Umbrella  Scheme  for  safety,  security  and empowerment  of  women  under  the  name  'Mission  Shakti',  while including in it components  such  as  National,  State  and  District  level  Hubs  for  Empowerment  of Women,  Women  Help  Lines,  One  Stop  Centres,  Beti  Bachao  Beti  Padhao,  Working Women's Hostels, crèches for children of working women etc. The schemes of One Stop Centres and Universalisation of Women Helpline are being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to support women facing violence of any kind which may also adversely impact on their participation in workforce. The Government, with the aim  to  provide  safe  and  secure  work  environment  to  women  and  to  increase  their participation  in  the  workforce,  has  enacted  'The  Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013' (SH Act). The Act covers all women, irrespective of their age or employment status and protect them from sexual harassment at all workplaces whether public or private, organized or unorganized. The Act casts an  obligation  upon  employers  to  provide  a  safe  and  secure  working environment free from sexual harassment by constituting Internal Committees (ICs) for workplaces with ten or more workers and by displaying at conspicuous places the penal consequences  of  sexual  harassment  and  the  orders  constituting  ICs.  Similarly,  Local Committees (LCs) are to be constituted under the Act in districts to receive complaints in organizations  having  less  than  10  workers  or  if  complaints  are  against  employers themselves.  Employers  are  also  required  to  organize  workshops  and  awareness programmes at regular intervals for sensitizing the employees about the provisions of this legislation. In order to enhance the employability of female workers, the Government is providing  training  to  them  through  a  network  of  Women  Industrial  Training  institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes.

To ensure economic independence of women through skill development and vocational training,  the  Government  has  also  introduced  Skill  India  Mission.  The  National  Skill Development  Policy  focuses  on  inclusive  skill  development,  with  the  objective  of increased women participation for better economic productivity. There are schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and Stand-up India, for helping the women to set up their own enterprises. Further, the Labour Codes, viz. the Code on Wages 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020,  collectively  include  provisions  to  promote participation of women in workforce in a dignified manner.

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