Study

On
Women Welfare in India
Submitted To
Prof. Ajay Dixit

Submitted By
Kanika Jain (094223)
Parth Mair (094240)
Mrugit Gajjar (094242)
MBA (FBE &E) 20092009-11

Institute of Management, Nirma University

Sector
Women Welfare in India

Reasons for Selection

Women constitute about 50% of total population.

Role of women overall development of culture, society and country.

Current status of Women in India.

Nature of Problem
In India, policies and programmes of the government at different levels cover various
dimensions and strategies of gender development. Over the years, efforts have been made to
empower women socially, economically and politically. However, due to lack of synergy and
coordination, the achievements are not satisfactory. It is imperative that an integrated policy
and strategy be formulated to address economic, social and political issues related to women
along with the requisite programmes and schemes.
Though India has created protective legislations for women, the enactments have not been
easy to implement. The vastness of the country, the scattered nature of women workers, their
lack of education and legal literacy, the indifferent attitude of government bureaucracy have
all contributed to the continuing vulnerability of women. This is true not only of rural
unorganised women, but also of urban women workers. Although the Constitutional
commitments to women find reflections in the planning process, legislations, policies and
programmes of the Central and State Governments yet the current socio-economic status of
women is unsatisfactory in terms of almost all important indicators of human development.

Statistics on Women Welfare

World Scenario

Women and Poverty

70% of the 1.2 billion people living in poverty are female1

Women as Workers
Women do more than

 67% of the hours of work done in the world

Earn only 10% of the worlds income
And own only 1% of the worlds property.
The value of unremunerated work was estimated at about $16 billion, from which $11
billion represents the invisible contribution of women.
Women are paid 30-40% less than men for comparable work on an average
60-80% of the food in most developing countries is produced by women
Women hold between 10-20% managerial and administrative jobs
Women make up less than 5% of the worlds heads of state.

Women and Education

60 % of the 130 million children in the age group of 6-11 years who do not go to
school, are girls.
Approximately 67% of the worlds 875 million illiterate adults are women.
3 out of 5 women in Southern Asia and an estimated 50% of all women in Africa and
in the Arab region are still illiterate.

Women in India

Child Sex Ratio (0_6 years)

The child sex ratio has dropped from 945 females per 1000 males in 1991 to 927
females per 1000 males in 2001.
The United Nations Childrens Fund, estimated that upto 50 million girls and women
are missing from Indias population because of termination of the female foetus or
high mortality of the girl child due to lack of proper care.

Women as Workers
Female share of non-agricultural wage employment is only 17%.
Participation of women in the workforce is only 13.9% in the urban sector and 29.9%
in the rural sector.
Womens wage rates are, on an average only 75 % of mens wage rates and constitute
only 25% of the family income.
In no Indian State do women and men earn equal wages in agriculture.
Women occupy only 9% of parliamentary seats, less than 4% seats in High Courts
and Supreme Court. less than 3% administrators and managers are women.

Women and Education

Close to 245 million Indian women lack the basic capability to read and write.
Adult literacy rates for ages 15 and above for the year 2000 were female 46.4% male
rate of 69%.

Women and Health

The average nutritional intake of women is 1400 calories daily. The necessary
requirement is approximately 2200 calories.
38% of all HIV positive people in India are women yet only 25% of beds in AIDS
care centres in India are occupied by them.
92% of women in India suffer from gynaecological problems.
300 women die every day due to childbirth and pregnancy related causes.
The maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births in the year 1995 was 440.

Female Foeticide
Female foeticide in India increased by 49.2% between 1999-2000

According to NCRB Crime in India, 2002 the following crimes were committed
against women in India.

Rape
16,373 women were raped during the year
45 women were raped every day
1 woman was raped every 32 minutes
An increase of 6.7% in the incidents of rape was seen between 1997-2002

Incest
2.25% of the total rape cases, were cases of incest

Sexual Harassment
44,098 incidents of sexual harassment were reported.
121 women were sexually harassed every day
1 woman was sexually harassed every 12 minutes
An increase of 20.6% was seen in incidents of sexual harassment between 1997-2002

Importation of girls/Trafficking
11,332 women and girls were trafficked

 31 women and girls were trafficked every day

1 woman or girl was trafficked every 46 minutes

Kidnapping and abduction

14,630 women and minor girls were kidnapped or abducted
40 women and minor girls were kidnapped every day
1 woman or minor girl was abducted every 36 minutes

Dowry Related Murders

7,895 women were murdered due to dowry
21 women were murdered every day
1 woman was murdered due to dowry every 66 minutes

Domestic Violence
49,237 women faced domestic violence in their marital homes.
135 women were tortured by their husbands and in-laws every day
1 woman faced torture in her marital relationship every 11 minutes
Domestic violence constitutes 33.3% of the total crimes against women
A steep rise of 34.5% in domestic violence cases was witnessed between 1997-2002

Suicide
12,134 women were driven to commit suicide due to dowry
1,10,424 housewives committed suicide between 1997-2001 and accounted for 52%
of the total female suicide victims

Child Sexual Abuse

Out of 350 school girls 63% had experienced sexual abuse at the hands of family
members
25% had been raped, forced to masturbate the perpetrator or forced to perform oral
sex
Nearly 33% said the perpetrator had been a father, grandfather or male friend of the
family

Sexual Abuse
Out of 600 women respondents
76% had been sexually abused in childhood or adolescence
Of Of Of the abusers
42% were uncle or cousin

 4% were father or brother

Domestic Violence
Over 40% of married Indian women face physical abuse by their husband
1 in every 2 women faces domestic violence in any of its forms_physical, sexual,
psychological and/or economic

Statistics Annexure I

Central Government Schemes

Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) - A Conditional Maternity Benefit

Scheme

Baseline Survey - IGMSY

Approval of Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

(RGSEAG)-SABLA

Base Line Survey - SABLA

Gender Budgeting Scheme

SwayamSiddha

Scheme for Working Women Hostel

Short Stay Home For Women and Girls (SSH)

Swadhar

STEP (Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women)

Stree Shakti Puraskaar

Gujarat Government Initiatives

The constitution of India resolves to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular
Democratic Republic and secure to all citizens its Fundamental Rights. The Principle of
Gender equality grants equality to women and empowers the State to adopt measures of
positive discrimination in favor of women.

The WCD Department with the ICDS and IWDS (Integrated Child Development Service and
Integrated Womens Development Service) functions for the Empowerment, upliftment and
welfare of Women and children under its various schemes. Initiated by GOI, the ICDS and
IWDS scheme was launched in 1975 and expanded to over 5000 + projects spread over 35

states benefiting 35 million children (0-6 years) and about 6.6 million pregnant and lactating
mothers through a network of 6 lac Anganwadi centres.

Family welfare, Education, Health, Nutrition and Health Education, Justice and equality, etc
are the various issues focused for the welfare of Women and Children. Economic and Social
empowerment of women with protection to Women from Domestic Violence, Rights of
Property by female members, Dowry Prohibition, Protection from sexual harassment,
indecent representation of women and many other women favoring actions are governed by
the department. Child marriage restraints, infant milk substitutes, bottle feeding and infant
food products monitoring, child care and protection are the many children related acts that
calls for action and supervision by the WCD.

The Department is sensitive in eliminating gender based discrimination from society through
gender sensitization and gender just development in Gujarat. It mainstreams women in
programs, plans, development and implementations by bridging the gap of gender bias. It has
fringed policies that ensure gender equality. For the family welfare, the department functions
for activities in coordination with other Departments and organizations in connection with
this subject. It plays a significant role for Socio-economic-educational welfare of Women and
children and imparts empowerment guidelines and awareness.

The WCD operates under important functionaries :

Commissionerate of Women And Child Development
Directorate of Social Defence
Gujarat Women Economic Development Corporation Ltd. (GWEDCL)
Gujarat State Commission For Women
Gender Resource Center (Autonomous)
Central Social Welfare Board

Gujarat WCD Department ensures Gender Equality :

Gender Equality is accepted and incorporated in the overall development process and plans by
providing:

social, economic and Educational empowerment

Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship
Equality of status and opportunity
Justice and equality of women and creating awareness for socio-economic empowerment
Initiatives
Womens inequality manifests itself in many forms such as gender discrimination in terms of
declining male-female sex ratio, Social stereotyping, Gender based violence at home and at
work, Low level of education, health and nutritional status, limited access to resources, etc. The
State Policy for Gender Equity (GEP) is formulated with a vision to safeguard women and create
awareness, fostering well being and security of women in Gujarat. WCD successfully operates
many Initiatives and schemes for Women and Child Welfare as:

Beti Bachao (Save Girl Child) MATRU VANDANA YATRA

Gujarat is suffering from one of the worst outcomes of gender based discrimination, i.e.
declining male-female sex ratio. The state average of child sex ratio (0-6 years) declined
dramatically from 928 in 1991 to 878 in 2001. To address this issue various efforts are being
made, one of the major being the Beti Bachao Campaign that was launched by Honorable
Chief Minister on the occasion of World Womens Day in 2005. Gender Resource centre, an
autonomous body, was an active partner of the campaign who was involved in documentation
and publications with a realization that it could play a vital role in changing the perception of the
society in general on such important issue.
Gaurav Nari Niti - Womens Pride, Gender Equality

The Government of Gujarat decided to formulate the Nari Gaurav Niti (GEP) in the year 2002.
The State has sanctioned and announced the state policy for Gender Equity as Nari Gaurav
Niti. Gujarat Government formulated the Nari Gaurav Niti Policy with a view to create
awareness in all its Administrative Departments on the socio-economic-educational and
developmental sector of women and benefit them through the policy by active involvement of
departments for timely modus operandi.
It consists of action plans and monitoring mechanisms and addresses public as well as private
sectors. The autonomous Gender Resource Centre provides technical inputs in implementation

and monitoring of the policy at State level. Working groups are formed and a series of
deliberations take place on all aspects of gender equity and equality.
Balika Samruddhi Yojna Girl Child Development

WCD initiates Balika Samruddhi Yojna to change negative family and community attitudes
towards the girl child at birth and towards her mother, to improve enrolment and retention of girl
children in schools, to raise the marriage age of girls and to assist girls to socio-economiceducational upliftment. The Anganwadi (Kindergarten) workers provide aid to open any
nationalized Bank or Post Office Savings account with Rs.500/- to new born girls born to
families after August 15, 1997. While getting education, a sum of Rs.300/- to Rs.1000/scholarship is added to their account. Till the girl child becomes marriage age or up to 18 years,
she is eligible to get the sum.
Kishori Shakti Yojna Adolscents, Strenth and Awareness

An intervention for adolescent girls (11-18 years) the Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) was
launched in 2000-01 as part of the ICDS scheme. Kishori Shakti Yojana being implemented
through Anganwadi Centres in both rural and urban areas. The scheme aims at breaking the
intergenerational life-cycle of nutritional and gender disadvantage and providing a supportive
environment for self-development. The objectives of the Scheme are to improve the nutritional
and health status of girls in the age group of 11-18 years. A group of ten girls in a batch, who
would be expectant mothers in future, are given Health Check up by Anganwadi centres. They
are also provided required literacy and numeracy skills, stimulation to social exposure and
knowledge to help them improve their decision making skills. The adolescent girls are given
home based and vocational skills, awareness on health, hygiene, nutrition, family welfare, home
management and child care guidance with measures to facilitate marrying after marriage age of
18 years. They are encouraged for productive and constructive activities for their own
development as well as for their family.

Swayamsidh Yojna Self Reliance and empowerment

Swayamsidha is an integrated project for the development and empowerment of women.

Swayamsiddha (swayam or self and siddha the one who has proven capability or is
empowered) project was introduced by GOI during 2001 to 2002 replacing the erstwhile Indira
Mahila Yojana. The long term objective of the scheme is to achieve an all round empowerment
of women socio-economical-cultural empowerment by ensuring their direct access to, and
control over, resources through a sustained process of mobilization and convergence of all
ongoing sector programs. The WCD of Gujarat implements the policy to help rural women be
self reliant, gain confidence and learn the art of savings. It also focus on Community oriented
innovations, working in groups, building team spirit, mobilization of activities, gaining
knowledge and awareness to empower financially. This project is envisaged in 20 regions at 26
spots covering 1760 villages which include 43,200 women and 2700 initiating helpers. This
project has brought women into the mainstream of development in the rural areas of Gujarat.

Vidhva Sahay and Talim Yojna

The Department is sensitive towards women 18-40 years, who have lost their husbands and
initiates policy for their empowerment and economic living condition. For their economical
living, under Manav Garima Yojna, Rs. 3000/- margin money is given to help them stand on
their feet on their own and empower living. Women in the age group of 18-60 years are provided
monetary help by way of application. The applicant gets Rs.500/- and two children gets Rs.80/(per child) every month through Post Office.
Saraswati Sadhna Yojna

Introduced first in Gujarat, this is an innovative Go Green initiative of the WCD. Provision of
Rs. 1 crore has been made under Saraswati Sadhna Yojana to provide bicycles to Scheduled
Castes students by the Gujarat Government. A sum of Rs.1500/- is provided to girls below 8th
Grade to buy bicycle. Apart from this, provisions are made for students in elementary and high
school education to get food and lodging, free of cost.
Kunverbai nu Mameru scheme

WCD makes provisions for monetary help to scheduled caste for their daughters marriage under
Kunverbai nu mameru scheme. Those who gets an annual income of Rs.11,000/- can avail
Rs.5000/- for their one daughters marriage. For this, Rs.2000/- are given to girls
parents/guardian and Rs.3000/- is given to the girl in the form of Kisan Vikas Patra.
Saat Phera Samuh Yojna

Joint marriages are more economical through WCD schemes in Gujarat. Minimum five couples
and over, who get married from the scheduled caste whose family income is Rs.11000/- , the
couple gets Rs.5000/- in the form of Narmada Shreenidhi Certificate along with Merit
Certificate. For organizing the Samuh Lagna, (group marriage), a sum of Rs.1000/- is offered.
Mahila Vrudh Ashram

Old Parents are day by day being neglected by the Youth. As a result, the WCD has made special
arrangements for uncared women and foster their needs. State Government has set up Old Age
Homes for such destitute. Exclusive Women Old Age homes are structured with an exclusive
existing Home at Jamnagar.
Chiranjeevi Yojna

It is estimated that in the state of Gujarat about 1.2 million children are born each year. Some
mothers who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families are the most vulnerable to death
during delivery since they face significant risk owing to their poor socio-economic status and
limited access to healthcare services. The Chiranjeevi Yojana implemented by the
Government of Gujarat is aimed to encourage the BPL families to improve access to
Institutional delivery. Financial assistance is provided for protection to the BPL families,
covering their out-of-pocket costs incurred on travel to reach the healthcare facility centre.
Assistance of Rs.200/- for transportation expenses with Rs.50/- for the attendant is provided.
Approximately, 1,63,609 women have availed the benefit of this scheme.

The scheme also provides for financial support to the accompanying person for loss of wages.

Out of the many schemes, the main mechanism being used is the BPL card. The scheme was
launched as a one year pilot project in December 2005 in five backward districts viz.,
Banaskantha, Dahod, Kutch, Panchmahals, and Sabarkantha and covered all BPL families.
The scheme has now been extended to the entire state. When the scheme was initiated the
pilot districts were selected based on remoteness and included regions facing highest infant
mortality and maternal mortality. The private medical practitioners (mainly gynaecologists)
in these regions were empanelled in the scheme to provide maternity health services. These
providers are reimbursed a fixed rate for deliveries carried out by them.
Nari Adalat

The concept devised By women for women - the Nari Adalats is operational for legal
justice in over 19 regions in Gujarat. Women jurists dispense justice in womens cases of
divorce, abandonment, violence, rape and dowry demands. These courts are set up for women
empowerment and gender justice. These courts are not recognized by the State as a legal
forum. However, the autonomous hybrid institutions are para legal authority who solve
women cases faster than judicial courts. These courts are helping rural women overcome
problems encountered in the normal judicial system. Inaccessibility, cost, time, unfamiliarity
with legal procedures, inadequate resources, and a traditional disregard of the needs of
women all solutions get speedy, efficacy, and cost effective.
Sakhi Mandal Yojna

The Project is to enable the poor women, particularly in rural areas of Gujarat to improve
their access to resources and consequently strengthen livelihoods and quality of life. Sakhi
Mandals are formation of women self help groups based on thrift and credit principles. It
provides financial services to accelerate the process of economic development and ensure
welfare of women. They are encouraged to foster decision skills and develop a framework of
wider range of participation in micro finance development. In one year, the Gujarat
Government aims for one lac Sakhi Mandals across the state.
Krishi Talim Yojna

Krishi Talim Training in the field of Agriculture is imparted to Women Farmers and
Farmers wives for Research and use of latest technology. These Agricultural women are paid
stipend and transportation for the training course.
Fish Entrepreneur Yojna

Government encourages scheduled caste/tribe women to sell fishes to be self reliant. For the
purpose, required instruments and facility is provided to buy weighing machine, Insulated
box, etc. On average Rs.10,000/- Unit cost, 50% assistance is given to women belonging to
scheduled caste/tribe. Training is given to Women for growth of Zingo fishes under a ten
day course with Rs.100/- scholarship.
Apart from these Intiatives, the Educational Initiatives and Health Initiatives related to
Women and child are:
Kanya Kelavani Rath (Procession for Literacy of a Girl Child)
Educated Girl Child
Bal Pravesh
Mid-day Meal Schemes
Nirogi Bal
Vidhyalaxmi Bonds
Vidhya Deep Yojna
Teachers Training and Distance Teachers Training Program

NGOs Working for Women Welfare in India

National Council of Women In India

Centre for Women's Development Studies, Delhi - A research centre comprised of a

group of professionals working for the realization of women's equality and
development in all spheres of life. The centre maintains a specialized library with a
collection on women and development in India, open to students, research scholars,
gender consultants, policy makers, journalists etc.

Committee on the Portrayal of Women in the Media, Delhi

Institute of Social Studies Trust : Delhi.

The YWCA of India - NGOs Delhi : An umbrella organisation affiliated to the World
YWCA with 65 local associations in India. The organisation works for women's
empowerment through a variety of programmes , the most important of which are
leadership training for women, advocacy work on all women's issues, and community
development work . The YWCA also runs 40 women's residences across the country
providing housing for working women as well as emergency shelter for women. The
YWCA of India is also a part of a network of 7 women's organistions based in Delhi
and works together with them on common issues.

National Commission of Women, Delhi.

All India Coordinating Forum of the Adivasi/Indigenous Peoples (AICAIP), Delhi:

AICAIP was established as a forum for Adivasi/indigenous people's movements all
over India. Its objective is to strengthen the process of building solidarity and
alliances amongst struggle oriented indigenous people's organizations. AICAIP aims
to identify shared issues and problems, to generate debate on these issues and to
provide support to help deal with them. One of the five working groups AICAIP has
established is focused on Adivasi Women Issues. Neither AICAIP nor any of the
organizations it represents concentrates specifically on the dissemination of
information. There is also no other Indian indigenous people's organization with this
focus. However, exchanging and providing information is part of AICAIP's work.

Diverse Women for Diversity, Delhi.

Kali for Women, Delhi, Feminist Publisher.

Womens Foundation, Delhi.

Saheli, a womens organisation, Delhi.

Sakhi: Lesbian Organisation, Delhi.

Center for Women's Studies and Development, Chandigarh.

Centre for Women's Studies and Development

Faculty of Social Sciences,Varansai Aroda.

Women and Media Group, Mumbai.

The Women's Centre of India, Mumbai.

Women's Studies Unit, Mumbai The Women's Studies Unit attempts to sensitize
students and policymakers about women and development issues by teaching social

work students and government employees, by producing teaching materials,

consulting various groups about women and development, and by conducting
research.

Maitreyi, Mumbai The major objective of Maitreyi is to develop a feminist

perspective in understanding women's issues and the women's movement, and to
sensitize everyone about women's issues. Maitreyi sponsors and indirectly supports
the following activities: women's studies workshops, research, documentation,
support centers for women in distress, mobilization of women in villages to join
Ladies Club, and publication of books and annual reports.

Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT).

Women's University Library, Mumbai SNDT Women's University was established

in 1916 as the first women's university in India. The university library was established
in 1955. It houses an information service on women's studies. The women's
information section of the library caters to researchers and professors as well as
NGOs and activists. The library maintains an indigenous database -SUCHAKcontaining references to more than 100.000 titles. About 35.000 of these pertain
specifically to women. In recent years the library has acquired several instructional,
bibliographical, and full text databases. Languages: Indian, English.

Akshara - A Women's Resource Centre, Mumbai Akshara began informally in 1987

as result of the women's movement and its campaigns in Bombay. It started by
producing low cost publications for women's organizations and activists. In 1995,
Akshara received funds to establish a library and reference centre for women. It now
has library facilities, offers gender training and workshops, and publishes educational
and movement oriented materials. Languages: English, Marathi.

Center for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA)

Ahmedabad Chetna's mission is to contribute towards the empowerment of
disadvantaged women and children to enable them to gain control over their own,
their families' and their communities' health. Its trainings target supervisors, trainers,
program managers and practitioners of NGOs and GOs. In order to provide a good
flow of information, a documentation and information centre has been created. Today
Chetna's main efforts are aimed at documenting the lives of women and children in
India and health issues. The collection contains a special section of training manuals,
information kits and modules. Languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati.

Centre for Social Justice: Feminist Support Group, Ahmedabad.

Single Women's Organisation: Networking Organisation, Ahmedabad.

Women's Studies Research Centre.

Forum Against Oppression Of Women, Mumbai FAOW was formed in 1979 as a

platform to respond to an extremely unjust judgement on a rape case. Soon from a
Forum Against Rape as it was earlier called, it changed its name to the present one to
encompass varied forms of women's oppression. FAOW is part of what in India is
recognised as the Autonomous Women's groups which has played a crucial role in
this third phase of the women's movement [late 70's onwards]. Today it is mainly a
campaign group consisting of members from varied background- students,
housewives, professional women, lectureres etc. The members meet regularly once in
a week and every one puts their volantary time in the work that needs to be done.
There are no paid staffs.

Research Center for Women's Studies, Mumbai.

Women's Studies Unit, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

Majlis Mumbai Majlis is a legal and cultural resource centre working in the area of
women and minority rights. The legal centre of Majlis is a group of lawyers providing
legal assistance to women. Majlis is also involved in reasearch and documentation on
issues concerning women.

India Women Scientist's Association (IWSA), Mumbai, Promote women's

participation in Science. Membership is open to all science graduates.

Centre for Documentation and Research on Women (Aalochana).

"Kedar", Pune, Maharastra.

Anveshi Research Center for Women's Studies - Osmania University Campus,

Hyderabad.

Streelekha, Banglore.

Bangalore Joint Women's Programme.

Center for Informal Education and Development Studies, Banglore.

St. Ignatius Social Centre, Karnataka.

Working Women's Forum, Chennai.

Madras Women's Indian Association, Chennai.

Mother Teresa Women's University, Chennai.

Social Impact of Schemes

Annexure II