Lok Sabha Question No. 3154 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Action for Gender Equality
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3154 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2024

## ACTION FOR GENDER EQUALITY

## 3154.     SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government agrees with the view that important contributions to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women must be translated into effective action by all the States;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  that  have  been  taken/being  taken  by  the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has made any efforts to develop and strengthen norms policies and standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI )

(a) to (d): India is witnessing a rapid transition from women's-development to womenled development with the vision of a new India where women are the leading partners in fast paced and sustainable national development. Government has adopted a multipronged approach on a life-cycle continuum basis to address the issue of educational, social, economic and political empowerment of women.

The greatest leap forward for women empowerment was taken by representation of women in the National and State legislatures, by enactment of 'the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023' (Constitution One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act 2023, for reservation of one-third of seats for women in the House of People (Lok Sabha) and in the State Legislative Assemblies including Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi.

In order to encourage employment of women, a number of enabling provisions have been incorporated in the Labour Codes viz. the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code on Social Security, 2020 to create congenial work environment for women workers.

Multiple  initiatives  for  increasing  participation  of  women  in  Science,  Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), such as Women Scientist  Scheme, Vigyan Jyoti scheme, Overseas Fellowship Scheme, have been undertaken.

The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  implements  an  umbrella  scheme, 'Mission Shakti' for safety, security and empowerment of women. Under the scheme, the Government has set up One Stop Centres across the country to provide integrated help and support to women facing violence or those in distress, a 24x7 women helpline with  telephonic  short  code  181  which,  besides  provides  emergency  and  nonemergency  support  to  the  needy  women  by  connecting  them  with  appropriate authorities, also provides information related to various government schemes, policies and programmes to enable them to avail the benefits. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) component of the scheme, is for preventing gender based sex-selection and also  focuses  on  awareness  generation  on  gender  equality  and  discouraging  child marriage. The component of Shakti Sadan provides help and support to women in distress, destitute and victims of unfortunate circumstances including the victims of trafficking.  The  Sakhi  Niwas  component  is  for  providing  safe  and  affordable accommodation with childcare facilities to the working women and women and girls pursuing  higher  education  and  training  for  employment  and  self-employment.  The Palna  component  provides  childcare  facilities  in  the  Anganwadi  -cum-crèches  to promote  women's  participation  in  the  workforce.  The  Hubs  for  Empowerment  of Women  at  the  national,  state  and  district  levels  address  the  issue  of  information asymmetry  with  regard  to  government  schemes  pertaining  to  women  in  rural  and urban  areas.  Under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Mantru  Vandana  Yojana  (PMMVY),  cash benefits through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode are provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers.

The  schemes  such  as  Sukanya  Samriddhi  Yojana  have  incentivized  financial investments  into  the  girls'  future.  Schemes  like  Samagra  Shiksha,  provision  of separate toilet for girls in schools, various scholarship schemes, provision of affordable and quality sanitary napkins under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, etc.  have  also  contributed  towards  behavioural  changes  resulting  in  increased enrolment of girls in educational institutions.

The Government of India, through the Public Procurement Policy, has mandated that all Central Ministries/ Departments/ Public Sector Enterprises procure at least 3% of their annual procurement from women-owned Micro and Small Enterprises.

To  ensure  economic  independence  of  women  through  skill  development  and vocational training, the  Government  has  also introduced Skill India Mission. Government has also set up the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana across the country. Emphasis has been laid on creating additional  infrastructure  both  for  training  and  apprenticeship  for  women.  Similarly, Government  implements  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Gramin  Digital  Saksharta  Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) to provide digital literacy to rural population. These schemes have also helped women  and  girls in gaining necessary skills required for jobs and entrepreneurship.

One  of  the  most  successful  schemes  of  the  Central  Government  is  Deendayal Antyodaya  Yojna  -  National  Rural  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NRLM),  under  which approximately 90 lakhs women self-help groups having nearly 10 crore members are changing the rural landscape for employment/ self-employment.  Similarly, National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) is for urban areas. Besides, there are schemes like  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY),  Stand-up  India,  Start-up  India, Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), for providing employment/ self-employment and credit facilities. Majority of the beneficiaries under these schemes are women.

Recognizing language as a fundamental force for positive cultural change, striving to cultivate an environment where diverse perspectives are acknowledged, valued, and empowered, Government launched a Guide on Gender-Inclusive Communication, in November  2023,  aimed  at  changing  entrenched  linguistic  norms  to  promote  and provide practical insights and strategies to overcome the deeply rooted biases present in language.

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