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MoWCD WILL SET UP ONE STOP CENTRES

The Ministry of Women and Child Development will set up One Stop Centres (OSCs) across 10 countries to provide assistance to Indian women who are survivors of gender-based violence. The missions where the OSCs will come up are Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada and Singapore. It will also set up 300 OSCs in the country in addition to the nearly 700 existing ones across all districts.

About: It is a centrally sponsored scheme for addressing the problem of violence against women. It was launched in April 2015. It is a subscheme of the umbrella scheme for National Mission for Empowerment of Women including Indira Gandhi Mattritav Sahyaog Yojana. One stop centre will be established across the country and at least one OSC in every mission around the world to provide integrated support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence. Indian missions represent an important form of contact between the Indians around the world and the government of India.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INITIATIVES

To support women affected by the violence that they may face within the family or at the workplace or within the community, in private or public places. Specially for women who face sexual, physical, psychological, emotional and economic abuse, irrespective of their caste, creed, race, class, education status, age, culture, or marital status.

Funding: It is funded through Nirbhaya Fund and the central government provides 100% financial assistance to the state governments /Union Territories administrations.

Nirbhaya Fund: The Nirbhaya Fund Framework provides for a non-lapsable corpus fund for safety and security of women. It was established in 2013. It is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of the Government of India. It can be utilized for projects and initiatives related to women safety.

Auditing: Audit will be done as per Comptroller & Auditor General of India norms and social audit will also be undertaken by civil society groups.

Services: Emergency response and rescue services, Medical assistance, Assistance to women in lodging the FIR, Psycho-social support and counselling, Legal aid and counselling, Shelter, Video conferencing facility.

INDIAN LEGISLATION TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013: The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, built on the Vishaka Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in 1997, is in place. The act was laid down to ensure that women in particular are protected against sexual harassment at all workplaces, be it in public or private. It is mandated by law that every company with more than 10 employees have: a policy against sexual harassment, a trained Internal Complaints Committee with one external member, and mandatory training of employees on what is sexual harassment and how to seek help within the organization.

• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), 2012: The POCSO Act, 2012 was enacted to Protect the Children from Offences of Sexual Assault, Sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well-being of children. The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as the matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child. The Act defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography.

• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: Dowry Prohibition Act, Indian law, enacted on May 1, 1961, intended to prevent the giving or receiving of a dowry. Under the Dowry Prohibition Act, dowry includes property, goods, or money given by either party to the marriage, by the parents of either party, or by anyone else in connection with the marriage.

SOME OTHER INITIATIVES FOR WOMEN

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to compromise their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas collecting firewood. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on May 1st, 2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. Under this scheme, 5 Cr LPG connections will be provided to BPL families with a support of Rs.1600 per connection in the next 3 years. Ensuring women’s empowerment, especially in rural India, the connections will be issued in the name of women of the households. Rs. 8000 Cr. has been allocated towards the implementation of the scheme. Identification of the BPL families will be done through Socio Economic Caste Census Data.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: The government has announced the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative to ensure survival, protection, and empowerment of the girl child. This is being implemented through a national campaign and focussed multisectoral action in 100 selected districts low in CSR, covering all States and UTs. This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The objectives of this initiative are:

• Prevention of gender-biased sex-selective elimination
• Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child
• Ensuring education and participation of the girl child

• Vigyan Jyoti Scheme: Vigyan Jyoti Scheme is launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST). It is intended to create a level-playing field for the meritorious girls in high school to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in their higher education. It also offers exposure for girl students from the rural background to help to plan their journey from school to a job of their choice in the field of science.
• Kiran Scheme: The Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) Scheme is one of the several pioneering initiatives started by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for promoting women in science. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is implementing ‘Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN)’ Scheme to provide various career opportunities to women scientists and technologists. It is primarily aimed to bring gender parity in the Science & Technology sector by inducting more women talent in the research & development domain through various programmes.

TEST YOURSELF

Q.1 Which of the following Union Ministries is going to set up One Stop Centres (OSCs) across 10 countries to provide assistance to Indian women who are survivors of gender-based violence?

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
2. Ministry of Human Resource Development
3. Ministry of Women and Child Development: ANSWER
4. None of the above

Q.2 Which of the following given statements is/are incorrect in the reference to the One stop Centre which is going to be set up for the protection of women?

1. The missions where the OSCs will come up are Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada and Singapore.
2. It is a subscheme of the umbrella scheme for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) & Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: ANSWER
3. It is funded through Nirbhaya Fund and the central government provides 100% financial assistance to the state governments /Union Territories administrations.
4. None of the above

Q.3 Which of the following is/are correct in the context of the objective of the Initiative 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' Scheme?

1. Prevention of gender-biased sex-selective elimination
2. Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child
3. Ensuring education and participation of the girl child
4. All of the above: ANSWER

Q.4  ___________ is one of the several pioneering initiatives started by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for promoting women in science?

1. KIRAN scheme: ANSWER
2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
3. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
4. None of the above

Q.5 Consider the given statements & state which of the following is/are incorrect in the context of the constitutional provisions related to women?

1. Article 343 D (3) and Article 343 T(3) provide for reservation of not less than one sixth of total number of seats in Panchayats and Municipalities for women to be allotted by rotation to different Constituencies.
2. Article 16(4) makes it possible for the state to create special provisions for protecting the interests of women and children.
3. Article 39 requires the State to direct its policy towards securing for men and women equally the right to an adequate means of livelihood and equal pay for equal work for both men and women.

1. I & III follows
2. Only III follows
3. Only I follows
4. I & II follows: ANSWER