ASSIGNMENT

Topic-A STUDY ON WOMEN WELFARE PROGRAMMES IN INDIA:

Submitted By

MOHAMMAD ZIYA ANSARI

BALLB (HONS)
SEMESTER-VI
ENROLLMENT NO- GI- 6492
FACULTY NO- 17BALLB- 72
PROJECT

Submitted To

DR. M. KALIMULLAH

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law

Aligarh Muslim University

ALIGARH-202002 (INDIA)

2019.20
 SYNOPSIS

1-INTRODUCTION.
2-METHODOLOGY
A-National policy for empowerment of women.
B-Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (Rgseag) – Sabla.

C-Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY).

D-Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women (STEP).

E-Working Women’s Hostel (WWH).

F- Women Empowerment and Livelihood Programme in Mid-Gangetic Plains

(Priyadarshini).

G- Swadhar (Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances).

H- Scheme for Combating Trafficking.

I-Family Counselling Centres (FCCs).

J- Short Stay Home Programme.

K- Condensed Courses of Education for Adult Women (CCE).

L- Integrated Scheme for Women’s Empowerment (ISWE).

3- SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE

(PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) BILL.

4- PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT

(PWDVA), 2005.
5- CRIMINAL LAW (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2013.
6-CONCLUSION.
7-BIBLIOGRAPHY.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS A DEEP SENSE OF

THANKS & GRATITUDE TO MY PROJECT GUDIE PROFESSOR.

MOHAMMAD KALIMULLAH SIR FOR GUIDING ME IMMENSELY

THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT.

I ALSO THANKS TO MY SENIORS FOR THEIR MOTIVATION &

SUPPORT. I MUST THANKS TO MY CLASSMATES FOR THEIR
TIMELY HELP & SUPPORT FOR COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT.

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANKS TO ALL

THOSE WHO HELPED ME DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TOWARDS
THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT.

THANKING YOU

MOHAMMAD ZIYA ANSARI

BALLB-3rd Year GI-6492

17BALLB-72
1-INTRODUCTION:
India is a very famous country known for its cultural heritage, traditions, civilization, religion
and geographical features from the ancient time. On the other hand, it is also popular as a male
chauvinistic nation. Women are given first priority in India however on the other hand they were
badly treated in the family and society. They were limited only for the household chores or
understand the responsibility of home and family members. They were kept totally unaware of
their rights and own development. People of India used to say this country as “Bharat-Mata”
however never realized the true meaning of it. Bharat-Mata means a mother of every Indian
whom we have to save and care always. Women constitute half power of the country so in order
to make this country a fully powerful country, women empowerment is very necessary. It is
empowering women to understand their rights to be independent in every area for their proper
growth and development. Women give birth to the baby means future of the nation so only they
can better involve in making the bright future of the nation through the proper growth and
development of the children. Women need to be empowered instead of treating as a helpless
victim of male chauvinism. In this way Government of India initiated so many Programmes,
schemes, Policies for Women Welfare. Women welfare is a step towards all round development.

2-METHODOLOGY:
The Study is Purely Theoretical. The Study is based on secondary data sources. The necessary
information about the Women Welfare programmes in India and its various components are
collected from Books, Journals, Internet Source or related topic. The Researcher study about the.
Women Welfare programmes in India.

WOMEN WELFARE PROGRAMMES IN INDIA

A-National policy for empowerment of women

a-In 2001, it was formulated as the blueprint for the future, with the express goal of bringing
about the advancement, development and empowerment of women.

b-It laid down detailed prescriptions to address discrimination against women, strengthen legal
systems, provide better health care access, equal opportunities for women’s participation in
decision making and mainstreaming gender concerns in development process etc.
B-Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (Rgseag) – Sabla

SABLA is a scheme to empower adolescent girls of 11-18 years by improving their nutritional
and health status, upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills. The
girls will also be equipped with information on health and family welfare, hygiene and guidance
on existing public services. The scheme is being implemented in 200 districts across the country
on a pilot basis while in the remaining districts Kishori Shakti Yojna (KSY), where operational,
will continue as before. The scheme is being implemented using the platform of Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS) wherein Aanganwadi Centre’s (AWC) would be the focal point
for the delivery of services. Introduced in 2010.

C-Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY)

The Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) is a Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme
for pregnant and lactating women. It was introduced in the year 2010 to contribute to better
enabling environment by providing cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant
and nursing mothers.
The Scheme envisages providing cash to Pregnant & Lactating (P&L) women during pregnancy
and lactation in response to individual fulfilling specific conditions. It addresses short-term
income support objectives with long-term objective of behavioural and attitudinal changes. The
scheme attempts to partly compensate for wage loss to Pregnant & Lactating women both prior
to and after delivery of the child.
Being implemented on pilot basis in 53 selected districts using the platform of Integrated Child
Development Services Scheme (ICDS), 12.5 lakh P & L women are expected to be covered
every year under IGMSY. The beneficiaries are paid 4000 in three instalments per P & L
woman between the second trimester and till the child attains the age of 6 months on fulfilling
specific conditions related to maternal and child health. Pregnant women of 19 years of age and
above for first two live births are eligible under the scheme. All Government/Public Sector
Undertakings (Central and state) employees are excluded from the scheme as they are entitled for
paid maternity leave. The wives of such employees are also excluded from the Scheme.

D-Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women (STEP)

The Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women (STEP) scheme was
launched as a Central Sector Scheme in 1986-87. The scheme aims to make a significant impact
on women by upgrading skills for employment on a self-sustainable basis and income generation
for marginalised and asset-less rural and urban women especially those in SC/ST households and
families below poverty line. The key strategies include training for skill development, mobilising
women in viable groups, arranging for marketing linkages and access to credit.
The scheme also provides for enabling support services in the form of health check-ups, child-
care, legal & health literacy, elementary education and gender sensitisation. The scheme
envisages each project to thrive on a self-sustainable basis with minimum governmental support
and intervention even after the project period is over.

The scheme covers 10 sectors of employment i.e. Agriculture, Animal Husbandry,

Dairying, Fisheries, Handlooms, Handicrafts, Khadi and Village Industries, Sericulture, Waste
Land Development and Social Forestry. The scope and coverage of the scheme has been
enlarged with the introduction of locally appropriate sectors.

E-Working Women’s Hostel (WWH)

The Working Women’s Hostel (WWH) Scheme envisages provision of safe and affordable
hostel accommodation to working, single working woman, women working at places away from
their hometown and for women being trained for employment.
The scheme has been revised with following salient features:

1. Financial assistance for construction of hostel building to be given only on public land.
2. Financial assistance available for rent of the hostels run in rented premises also.
3. Provision for maintenance grant of hostel building (maximum 5 lakh) and one-time
nonrecurring grant for furnishings for 7500 per beneficiary.
4. State government agencies, Urban Municipal Bodies, Cantonment Boards, Civil
Society Organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Self Help Groups,
recognized Colleges/Universities and Corporate or associations like CII, Associated
Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) and Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI) included under the revised scheme.
Since its inception in 1972–73, 902 working women hostels have been sanctioned under
the scheme all over the country benefiting about 67,284 working women.

F-Women Empowerment and Livelihood Programme in Mid-Gangetic Plains

(Priyadarshini)

From the year 2011, the Ministry is administering IFAD assisted pilot project namely
Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme in the Mid-Gangetic Plains
(Priyadarshini) in 13 blocks spread over five districts in Uttar Pradesh and two districts in
Bihar. The Programme aims at holistic empowerment (economic and social) of vulnerable
groups of women and adolescent girls in the project area through formation of women’s Self-
Help Groups (SHGs) and promotion of improved livelihood opportunities. Over 1,00,000
households are to be covered under the project and 7,200 SHGs will be formed during the project
period ending 2016–17. Though the focus of project is on livelihood enhancement, the
beneficiaries will be empowered to address their political, legal and health problems issues
through rigorous capacity building.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the lead programme
agency for the implementation through engagement of Resource NGOs and Field NGOs
(FNGOs). FNGOs are envisaged to carry out all field level activities, whereas a Resource NGO
(RNGO) has been envisioned to undertake activities relating to specialised capacity building and
provide other technical support to all field level project functionaries to ensure effective
implementation of the programme. The programme envisages giving training to the SHG
members on topics such as income generation and allied activities, marketing of products and
social issues, etc.

G-Swadhar (Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances)

Swadhar (Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances) was launched by the Ministry
during the year 2001-02 for the benefit of women in difficult circumstances with the following
objectives:
1. To provide primary need of shelter, food, clothing and care to the marginalized
women/girls living in difficult circumstances who are without any social and economic
support;
2. To provide emotional support and counselling to rehabilitate them socially and
economically
through education, awareness etc.;
3. To arrange for specific clinical, legal and other support for women/girls in need; and
4. To provide for help line or other facilities to such women in distress.
The Target Group/Beneficiaries under the scheme include the following:

1. Widows deserted by their families and relatives;

2. Women prisoners released from jail and without family support;
3. Women survivors of natural disaster who have been rendered homeless;
4. Trafficked women/girls rescued or runaway from brothels;
5. Women victims of terrorist/extremist violence who are without any family support
and without any economic means for survival;
6. Mentally challenged women (except for the psychotic categories who require care
in specialized environment in mental hospitals) who are without any support of family
or relatives;
7. Women with HIV/AIDS deserted by their family and without social/economic support.
The Swadhar scheme is being implemented through Social Welfare/Women and Child Welfare
Department of State Government, Women’s Development Corporations, Urban Local Bodies,
reputed Public/Private Trust or Voluntary Organisations

H-Scheme for Combating Trafficking

“Ujjwal”, a comprehensive scheme to combat trafficking was launched by the Ministry in the
year 2007 and is being implemented mainly through NGOs. The Scheme has five components –
Prevention, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-Integration and Repatriation of trafficked victims for
commercial sexual exploitation.
The activities envisaged under the Scheme for combating trafficking are:

1. Formation of community vigilance groups, adolescents’ groups, awareness creation

and preparation of IEC material, holding workshops, etc.
2. Safe withdrawal of victims from the place of exploitation.
3. Rehabilitation of victims by providing them safe shelter, basic amenities, medical care,
legal aid, vocational training and income generation activities.
4. Re-integration of victims into society.
5. Provide support to cross-border victims for their safe repatriation to their country of
origin.
Under the Scheme, assistance is provided to eligible organisations for undertaking the
above activities.

I-Family Counselling Centres (FCCs)

The Family Counselling Centre programme was introduced in 1983 due to increasing violence
against women specially dowry related cases. The centres provide counselling, referral and
rehabilitative services to women and girls who are victims of atrocities, family maladjustments
and social ostracism.
Through the centres, crisis intervention and trauma counselling is also provided in case of
natural or manmade disasters. Public opinion on social issues affecting status of women is
mobilised through this programme and awareness is created on welfare and development
schemes being implemented by the Government.

The Counselling Centres work in close collaboration with the local administration, police,
courts, free legal aids cells, medical and psychiatric institutions, vocational training centres, short
stay homes etc.

J-Short Stay Home Programme

The objective of the Short Stay Homes programme is to rehabilitate women and girls who are
facing social, economic and emotional setback due to family problem, exploitations, violence or
being forced into prostitution.
Under Short Stay Home programme, temporary shelter to women and girls, medical
care, counselling, occupational therapy, education and vocational training is provided according
to the requirements of the inmates. The period of stay normally extends from six months to three
years.

Under the programme, meetings have been held all over India with the functionaries of
the voluntary organisations and rehabilitation officers for capacity building and improved
networking so that the inmates are made self-reliant and can join the mainstream.

K-Condensed Courses of Education for Adult Women (CCE)

The scheme of Condensed Courses of Education for Adult Women (CCE) was initiated by
CSWB to cater to the needs of adult girls/women who were drop outs from formal schools. The
main focus of the scheme is to ensure that contents of the course are need based and
modified according to local requirement and simultaneously targeting various stages of
educational levels of middle/high school and matric/secondary level courses for adult
girls/women above the age of 15 years who could not join mainstream education.

L-Integrated Scheme for Women’s Empowerment (ISWE)

The Integrated Scheme for Women’s Empowerment is a pilot project for North East, designed
to address the socio-economic need of the region for empowerment of women and development
of children with the following objectives:
1. Mobilising community action.
2. Converging available services and resources in the area.
3. To address the felt needs of the area.
4. Income Generation through feasible and sustainable activities for women.
5. Provide support services for health awareness, Career Counselling Centres, vocational
training to prevent child trafficking, drug de-addiction.
The project is being implemented in three phases. A State Level Committee is formed in all
the States with representatives from State Government Departments, social workers, local
leaders and respective State Boards. The committee identifies and adopts the most backward
districts of the State and also a Mother NGO having a good track record, adequate infrastructure
and experience from the concerned area for implementation of the project. Motivational camps
are conducted in identified areas in the States culminating into formation of Community Based
Groups (CBG). The groups democratically decide the activity to be undertaken by them.

3-SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE

(PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) BILL:
Seeks to provide a safe and secure working environment to all women. It covers all work places
whether organized or unorganized including domestic workers. The definition of “aggrieved
woman”, who will get protection under the act is extremely wide to cover all women,
irrespective of her age or employment status. It defines sexual harassment at the work place and
creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints. It also provides safeguards against false or
malicious charges. Definition of employee covers regular/temporary/ad hoc/daily wage
employees, whether for remuneration or not and can also include volunteers.

The definition of employer includes the head of the Government

department/organization/institution/office/branch/unit, the person responsible for management/
supervisions/ control of the workplace, the person discharging contractual obligations with
respect to his/her employees and in relation to a domestic worker the person who benefits from
that employment. The redressal mechanism provided in the Act is in the form of Internal
Complaints Committee (ICC) and Local Complaints Committee (LCC). All workplaces
employing 10 or more than 10 workers are mandated under the Act to constitute an ICC. The
ICC will be a 4-member committee under the Chairpersonship of a senior woman employee and

will include 2 members from amongst the employees preferably committed to the cause of
women or has experience in social work/legal knowledge and includes a third-party member
(NGO etc.) as well. Complaints from workplaces employing less than 10 workers or when the
complaint is against the employer will be looked into by the LCC. A District Officer notified
under the Act will constitute the LCC at the district level. LCC will also look into complaints
from domestic workers. LCC will be a five member committee comprising of a chairperson to be
nominated from amongst eminent women in the field of social work or committed to the cause of
women, one member from amongst women working in block/taluka/tehsil/municipality in the
district, two members of whom at least one shall be a woman to be nominated from NGOs
committed to the cause of women or a person familiar with the issues related to sexual
harassment provided that at least one of the nominees should preferably have a background in
law or legal knowledge. The concerned officer dealing with the social welfare or women and
child development shall be an ex officio member. A complaint of sexual harassment can be filed
within a time limit of 3 months. This may be extended to another 3 months if the woman can
prove that grave circumstances prevented her from doing the same. The Complaints Committees
are required to provide for conciliation before initiating an inquiry, if requested by the
complainant. Penalties have been prescribed for employers. Noncompliance with the provisions
of the Act shall be punishable with a fine of up to 50,000. Repeated violations may lead to
higher penalties and cancellation of license or registration to conduct business. The Complaints
Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence.

4-Protection of women from domestic violence act (pwdva), 2005

Brought into force on 26th October 2006. Provides help from police, district protection officer,
service provider or DM in case of violence by intimate partner or by anyone within the family.
Under the PWDVA, various reliefs are provided to the aggrieved women on the orders passed by
the Magistrate after following due procedure. The Act also has a provision for appeal against
the orders of the Magistrate.

Salient Features

The Act seeks to cover those women who are or have been in a relationship with the abuser
where both parties have lived together in a shared household and are related by consanguinity,
marriage or a relationship in the nature of marriage, or adoption; in addition relationship with
family members living together as a joint family are also included. Even those women who are
sisters, widows, mothers, single women, or living with the abuser are entitled to get legal
protection.
 Domestic violence’ includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse that is physical, sexual, verbal,
emotional and economic. Harassment by way of unlawful dowry demands to the woman or her
relatives would also be covered under this definition. One of the most important features of the
Act is the woman’s right to secure housing. The Act provides for the woman’s right to reside in
the matrimonial or shared household, whether or not she has any title or rights in the household.
This right is secured by a residence order, which is passed by a court. These residence orders
cannot be passed against anyone who is a woman. The other relief envisaged under the Act is
that of the power of the court to pass protection orders that prevent the abuser from aiding or
committing an act of domestic violence or any other specified act, entering a workplace or any
other place frequented by the abused, attempting to communicate with the abused, isolating any
assets used by both the parties and causing violence to the abused, her relatives and others who
provide her assistance from the domestic violence. The draft Act provides for appointment of
Protection Officers and NGOs to provide assistance to the woman w.r.t medical examination,
legal aid, safe shelter, etc. The Act provides for breach of protection order or interim protection
order by the respondent as a cognizable and non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand
rupees or with both. Similarly, non-compliance or discharge of duties by the Protection Officer is
also sought to be made an offence under the Act with similar punishment.

5- Criminal law (amendment) act, 2013:

The Bill brought out after the Delhi gang rape of the Para-medical student on 16th December
2012. Bill provides for amendment of Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 on laws related to sexual offences. Act has expressly recognized
certain acts as offences which were dealt under related laws. These new offences like, acid
attack, sexual harassment, voyeurism, stalking have been incorporated into the Indian Penal
Code. Fixed the age of consensual sex to 18 years. Provides stringent punishment for sexual
offences against women. The bill states that offender could be given an imprisonment of not less
than 20 years, extendable up to life term. The bill also includes provisions for death sentence for
offenders who are convicted earlier for such crimes.
6-CONCLUSION:
Women are powerful and beautiful entity of the world. Women leadership is restricted by the
various social, cultural and political norms which need to be understood and addressed. First of
all, we need to address all the social inequalities hindering women’s advancement in order to
change women situation in the society as well as nation. in order to enhance the women’s
leadership in every area like men. Men too with women need to engage in all social and cultural
norms to encourage combined participation as well as create equitable environment in home,
office and community. Women role in Society is highly appreciable. so, Women welfare is very
important. Thus, The Government of India initiated so many programmes, policies, schemes for
welfare of Women.

7-BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1-www.yourarticlelibrary.com/women/women-welfare-programmes-in-india/47647

2-https://edugeneral.org/blog/polity/welfare-programmes-for-indian-women/

3-https://www.journalijdr.com/sites/default/files/issue-pdf/11869.pdf