Lok Sabha Question No. 283 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Gender Disparity
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HUKUM SINGH, M. K. RAGHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO 283 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2015

## GENDER DISPARITY

- *283. SHRI HUKUM SINGH: SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

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

- (a)      whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  incidents  of  exploitation,  harassment and  discrimination  meted  to  women/girls  in  various  fields  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, 2015 and United Nation's  Report  titled  'The  World's  Women  Trends  2015'  have  also  highlighted gender disparity and pointed out downfall in India's ranking and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   the legislative action drawn to stop exploitation/harassment of women and prevent discrimination and gender disparity; and
- (d)     the measures being taken by the Government to overcome gender disparity and provide equal status to women in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. 283    FOR  18.12.2015  BY  SHRI  HUKUM  SINGH  AND  SHRI  M.K.  RAGHAVAN REGARDING GENDER DISPARITY

- (a)   Yes Madam. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, a total of 244270,  309546  and  3,37,922  cases  were  reported  in  the  country  under  crime against women which include attempt to commit rape, kidnapping & abduction of women,  cases  under  Protection  of  women  from  domestic  violence  Act,  Dowry Prohibition  Act,  Indecent  Representation  of  Women  Act    etc.  during  2012,  2013 and 2014 respectively.
- (b) No,  Madam.  According  to  the  Global  Gender  Gap  Report,  2015  issued  by  the World Economic Forum, out of a total of  145  countries,  India  has  been  over  all ranked 108 in the Global Gender Gap Index improving from its 114 th  position in 2014. However, United Nation's Report titled 'The World's Women Trends 2015' highlighted that the India has the lowest sex ratio in under-5 mortality with a ratio of 93 that is 93 boys die before age 5 for 100 girls that die by that age.
- (c)   & (d)    Ending gender based inequities, discrimination and violence faced by girls and  women  in  the  country is of utmost  priority for  the  Government.  The Government  of  India  has  already  enacted  a  number  of  legislations  to  address gender based discrimination. These include the Criminal Amendment Act,2013, 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),    Equal  Remuneration Act,  1976,  Maternity  Benefit  Act,  1961  and    73rd    -  74th  Amendment  of  the Constitution  mandating  33%  reservation  for  women  in  the  local  governance. The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 has been enacted making punishment more stringent for offences like rape

Apart  from  the  above,  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  is  also implementing  Schemes  of  One  Stop  Centre  to  provide  integrated  support  and assistance  to  women  affected  by  violence  and  Scheme  for  Universalisation  of Women Helpline intended to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence. Further, to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme has been initiated with the objectives to empowering the girl child and enabling her education through a mass campaign and focussed intervention in 100 critical districts with low CSR.

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