Question: Recently Union Women and Child Development(WCD) Minister Maneka Sanjay Gandhi released the draft National Policy for Women, 2016 for consultations.This will replace the-
(a) National Policy for Women,2003
(b) National Policy for Women,2001
(c) National Policy for Women,2005
(d) National Policy for Women,1991
Ans:(b)
Related facts:
- On 17 May 2016 Union Women and Child Development(WCD) Minister Maneka Sanjay Gandhi released the draft National Policy for Women, 2016 for consultations.
- This will replace the National Policy for Women,2001.
- The policy envisions a society in which, women attain their full potential and are able to participate as equal partners in all spheres of life.
- It also emphasises the role of an effective framework to enable the process of developing policies, programmes and practices which will ensure equal rights and opportunities for women.
- The broad objective of the policy is to create a conducive socio-cultural, economic and political environment to enable women enjoy de jure and de facto fundamental rights and realize their full potential.
- The salient features of the policy are: –
I.Health including food security and nutrition: Focus on recognizing women’s reproductive rights, shift of family planning focus also to males, addressing health issues in a life cycle continuum such as psychological and general well-being, health care challenges related to nutrition/ hygiene of adolescents are included.
II.Education: Improve access to pre-primary education, enrolment and retention of adolescent girls.
III.Economy: Steps for skill development and training for women will be taken.
IV.Governance and Decision Making: Increasing women’s participation in the political arena, administration, civil services and corporate boardrooms.
V.Violence Against Women: Address all forms of violence against women through a life cycle approach, Legislations affecting /relating to women will be reviewed/harmonized to enhance effectiveness, Improve Child Sex Ratio (CSR), strict implementation of advisories, guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and protocols, prevention of trafficking at source.
VI.Environment and Climate Change: Addressing gender concerns during distress migration and displacement in times of natural calamities due to climate change and environmental degradation. - The policy also describes emerging issues such as making cyber spaces safe place for women, redistribution of gender roles, for reducing unpaid care work, review of personal and customary laws.
- Review of criminalization of marital rape within the framework women’s human rights in order to protect the rights of women.
- Facilitating women in workplace through gender friendly work place, flexi timings, increased maternity leave, provision of child care / creches at workplace, life cycle health care facilities.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx
http://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/draft%20national%20policy%20for%20women%202016.pdf