What new steps has the Indian government taken to protect women and encourage them to progress? Can women feel safe with all these steps?
The Government of India initiated many such programs, policies, and campaigns towards 2024 to ensure making the country safe, empower and better women. The intention is to bring out such violent practices against women, bringing independence economically, developing the skills of women, and raising awareness towards a safer and more balanced concept of life for women in general. Now, let’s go through these one after another.
1. Women Safety Initiatives
Use of Nirbhaya Fund The Nirbhaya Fund was utilized in government investment in pan buttons on public transport, CCTV cameras on vulnerable places, and total security in public areas.
Dedicated helplines and complaint portals were initiated to curb this rapidly growing menace of cyber crimes. This inspired the women to come forward with complaints about cases of cyber stalking, abuse, and other crimes being perpetrated through the online medium. Workshops were held to educate them on safe internet practice.
OSC: The One-Stop Centre (OSC) continued to be the key support centers for women victims of violence. They offer every kind of legal and medical service, counseling, and more. To expand them further for the un-reached areas, more OSCs were added in 2024.
2. New Policies and Schemes
Mission Shakti: It is a flagship programme, two pronged. The components include (1) Sambal: it relates to women’s safety and security and (2) Samarthya: Women Empowerment. This component has included helplines, shelter homes, and self-employment schemes.
Mahila Samriddhi Yojana: This includes credit facilitation that enables enhancing women’s financial independence, grants for the development of small enterprise, and also self-employment schemes.
Skill Development Programmes: There were trainings of the women for employability in IT, health, and entrepreneurship. Through partnerships with private companies by the government, there is skill development of the women in practical and relevant work fields.
Health Programs: This would include financial support for pregnant and lactating women, enhanced maternity care facilities, and an extension of schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao to girls’ education, health, and nutrition facilities.
3. Awareness Campaigns
Public Awareness on Safety : Awareness programs for city and village areas on the issue of public safety for women included female helplines, women safety mobile applications, and self-protection training workshops.
Special Awareness Programs on Educational Premises : Special sessions at schools and colleges were arranged for enlightening female students about legal rights, significance in cyber space safety, and how to recognize and expose harassment.
Digital Outreach: Mass outreach programs on social media have been started to make people aware of women’s safety, rights, and schemes by the government. Even influential personalities in social media and public figures were approached.
4. Legal Reforms and Strengthening of Existing Laws
Tough Law Enforcement: The implementation of law against crimes like domestic violence, dowry harassment, and sexual assault was made strict in this regard.
Developing POSH Act: To make the place of work risk-free for the women, the POSH act has been developed which would be effective in the long term also. The burden on employers was increased through audits along with strict compliance measures.
Fast track courts also emerged in cases of rape and other sexual harassments wherein justice would begin arriving at a faster pace.
These are the promises by government to fashion a society where women will feel safe and empowered. This marriage of safety alongside economic and personal growth will allow the government to work upon both immediate issues and systemic problems with which women face their lives.
It included legal reforms, awareness campaigns, and plans of economic empowerment to provide a holistic approach towards gender equality and women’s rights in India. Such exercises would help build respect as well as opportunities for women throughout the country.
