Good news!
In a move that can only be called 'revolutionary,' the Ministry of Women and Child Development has released a draft National Policy that will benefit not only working women but also those who stay at home.
This National Policy for Women draft was released for public by Union Minister, Maneka Gandhi herself, in New Delhi.
National Policy for Women
The drafted policy that now invites suggestions from the public, focuses on seven areas of concern.
The information about this policy was simultaneously released on Twitter, which gave a fair view of the new drafted policy.
#1 Health including food security and nutrition
Among other ideas, the draft suggest some very critical points for expecting mothers.
- Focus on Pregnant and Lactating (P&L) women will be continued by organising special health camps for the prevention and treatment of diseases affecting P & L women such as Anaemia, low BMI, under nutrition etc., and launch special drives to impart health and nutrition education.
- It also mentions that, "As assisted reproduction pregnancies are more risky due to the high rate of multiple births and the risk of infection, healthcare coverage will be provided to the surrogate during the pregnancy, during post-pregnancy checkups and treatments that follow."
#2 Education
In their point on education, the draft states that major constraints that prevent women from accessing higher and technical/scientific education should be identified. It also states:
- Girls will be encouraged to take up new subject choices linked to career opportunities.
- An inter-sectoral plan of action will be formulated for encouraging the enrollment of women in professional/scientific courses, by provision of financial assistance, coaching, hostels, and child care.
Continue reading to know more about maternity leave policy proposed in the National Policy for Women.
#3 Economy
In their economic policy is a clause for decreased tax slab and maternity leave benefits.
- Fiscal and monetary policies will be analysed from gender perspective since they have impending impact on the lives of women.
- "The gender affirmative role of direct taxation will be further enhanced through various incentives like reduction in stamp duties for women if assets are registered in their name, lowering of income tax slabs for women," the policy states.
- A mechanism will be put in place for monitoring the compliance of mandatory laws like Maternity Benefit Act and The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, and display of the rights and benefits of female employees provided by the organisation.
- Provisions such as natal and post-natal benefits, child care facilities, flexitime, housing which impact women’s productivity will also be encouraged.
Continue reading to know more about the National Policy for Women, which will also directly impact the lives of educated Indian women.
#4 Governance and Decision Making
The draft also proposed an increased role of women in the national decision making process. The draft proposes:
- Increase the participation of women in civil services, judiciary and in corporate boardrooms through appropriate modules for guidance and counselling, coaching, provision of financial incentives and quotas.
- Increase the participation of women at all levels such as in trade unions, political parties, interest groups, professional associations, and businesses/private sector.
- Along with a proposal to maintain gender disaggregated data to track and assess progress, or serious inconsistencies.
#5 Violence Against Women
The draft also has provision to curb violence against women. Among other things, it proposes:
- Strict monitoring of response of enforcement agencies to violence against women will be put in place
- Efforts will be made to ensure speedy /time bound trial of heinous crimes against women
- Alternate dispute redressal systems such as family courts, Nari Adalats etc., will be strengthened
Continue reading to know more about the National Policy for Women, which will also directly impact the lives of educated Indian women.
#6 Enabling Environment
An interesting addition to the proposed draft is its focus on the environment with respect to women.
- It proposes that efforts will be made to ensure gender perspective in housing policies. This means, "Central or State run housing scheme that provides for a house in the name of women will be universalised."
- Ensure safe drinking water and sanitation for women. And, efforts to educate women and girls about the dangers of unhygienic practices will be continued.
- It also proposes to bring gender parity in the mass media by increasing the presence of women in the decision making positions. "Encourage the entry of women in media industry through promotion of journalism and mass media courses and ensuring adherence to equitable work conditions," it states.
- It also proposes to make a conscious effort "to ensure gender parity in the induction of trainees, trainers, recruitment of coaches under various schemes of Sports Authority of India (SAI)." In addition, "Effort to make existing institutional sports facilities available to sports women on a neighbourhood basis will be strengthened."
- For working women, the draft proposes, "Concerted efforts will be made towards strengthening social security and support services like insurance products, pensions, travel concessions, subsidies, benefits under BPL systems, childcare, crèches, working women hostels, shelter homes. Corporate sector may be involved on a long term basis in the financing of the insurance component under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)."
- For women in urban areas, "all urban planning and smart city projects will mandatorily include safe and gender sensitive infrastructure and facilities. Urban Safety Audits will be conducted periodically to ensure all gender safe measures are provided."
Continue reading to know how you can add your suggestions and make amends in the proposed policy.
#7 Environment and Climate Change
The draft states that all aspects of energy-planning and policy making must include an actively advance women’s leadership.
"Specific attention would be paid to remove the barriers to women executives, entrepreneurs and employees within the energy sector as sustainable energy future requires a diversity of voices, and the solution has to be encompassing not only to break the cycle of poverty but to respond to the increasing workforce demand of the expanding energy sector," it proposes.
Add your suggestions to the National Policy for Women
You can visit this page, and add your comments and suggestions to the drafted policy. The ministry also tweeted out the way to invite the public to add their recommendations.
Since the platform was open to public use, many people have already listed their suggestions. Not surprisingly, most of them target the 26-week maternity leave policy by the private sector.
So let's use this power to bring about a change!
Read: Tata Sons roll out new maternity leave policy, make it every working woman's dream workplace
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