3 Mapping Women and Girl Child related initiatives across the Indian states

Dr. Ashish Saxena

1. Introduction:

The approach to women’s development in the first Five Year Plan (1951-56) was not clear. The women’s question was perceived as primarily a social one by the major section of the political leadership and the bureaucracy and the role of the State in ‘social issues’ was viewed with great hesitation and caution. Instead, women were projected as beings in need of education, health and welfare services only.

However, the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) set up in 1953, identified the problem of absence of any governmental machinery at most levels for welfare related activities and undertook to promote a number of welfare measures through voluntary organizations, encouraging women’s organizations to take up such activities in partnership with the government. Mahila Mandals were promoted as delivery mechanisms for essential services of education, health especially maternal and child health etc. both by the CSWB and the Community Development Programme through the first and the second Five Year Plans. Thus, the intention behind women and gender policies has evolved over past decades. Taking a historical perspective, the section below describes the philosophy underpinning various gender mainstreaming policies over the past decade. Until the early 1970s, policies addressed the needs of women entirely in the context of their role as wives and mothers. Shaped by this paradigm, they took the welfare approach, and the focus was on mother and child health, childcare, and nutrition. The flaw was that the policy objectives treated women as passive recipients of benefits, rather than partners.

From the 1970s and 1980s, a ‘women in development’ (WID) policy was mostly pursued, which aimed to integrate women into the existing development process by targeting them, often through women-specific activities. Although many WID initiatives improved health, income, or resources in the short term, they did not transform unequal relationships, and the structures enforcing these, which in turn negatively affected project sustainability. In spite of the weaknesses in a purely WID approach, it remains useful in certain contexts, and can still be useful in current day policy objectives. Currently, we speak about the capability approach which asks social planners to inquire into the needs individuals have for resources and their diverse abilities to convert resources into functioning.

The framework highlighted below is useful for understanding the interventions made by the state as well as in considering how and where to pitch policy goals.

(i) At the level of welfare, concern is the material welfare of women, relative to men and focuses on basic

provision of services to enable women to fulfill their domestic roles.

(ii) At the level of access, the focus is on access to the factors of production: land, water, labor, credit,

training, and all publicly available services and benefits on an equal basis with men. Strategies related to

access, enable women to fulfill important reproductive roles in society.

(iii) At the level of consciousness raising, the focus is on building an understanding of the difference

between sex roles and gender roles, and that the latter are cultural and can be changed.

(iv) At the level of participation, the focus is given to women’s equal participation in the decision-making

process, policymaking, planning and administration.

(v) At the level of equality of control, the focus is on factors of production and the distribution of benefits so

that neither men nor women are in a position of dominance.

2. EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN’S EDUCATION ACROSS THE INDIAN STATES:

“Mahila Samakhaya” – (In 4 States: U.P., Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh) – does not aim to deliver services but seeks to bring about changes in women’s perspectives about themselves and that of society in regard to women’s traditional roles and attempts “to create an environment for women to seek knowledge and information in order to make informed choices and create circumstances in which women can learn at their own pace and rhythm.”
Decentralised Planning for Elementary Education (DPEP) – (In 7 States: Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh) – seeks to operationalize a strategy of decentralized planning with special gender focus to universalize elementary education.
“Lok Jumbish” – a programme of universal primary education in educationally backward Rajasthan, emphasizing as its essential features gender centrality, improvement in teacher’s status, decentralization, emphasis on processes, consensus building and partnerships, participatory planning and evaluation, commitment to quality and mission mode.
“Shiksha Karmi” Project in Rajasthan – aims to revitalize and expand primary education, especially in remote and backward villages of the state. With teacher absenteeism being identified as a major problem , it aims at substituting teachers in single teacher schools with a team of educated local residents called “Shiksha Karmis”, at least 10% of whom have to be women.
U.P Basic Education Project (10 Districts of U.P.) – attempts to operationalise the concept of a school complex with a convergence of services for different age groups.
Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Project – has a two pronged strategy of intervening through improvements in teacher training and through school construction activities.
Bihar Education Project – Mahila Samakhaya (BEP-MS) – conceives education as a decisive intervention towards women’s equality and empowerment. While seeking to improve the content and process of education, establishing a system of training teachers and communities, working out wide ranging partnerships with political parties, activists, voluntary agencies, teachers etc., making the village school and the NFE system accountable to the people, it uses the Mahila Samakhaya process of enabling women to come together to gain information and knowledge, ask questions and take issue-based collective action.

A. EXPERIENCING WOMEN AND HEALTH ISSUES ACROSS INDIAN STATES

BHAGYALAKSHMI SCHEME – KARNATAKA

In 2006-07, the Bhagyalakshmi Scheme was launched with an objective of promoting the welfare of the girl child in economically weaker families and to raise their status within the family and society. Financial assistance is provided to the girl child through her mother/father/natural guardian subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions. All girl children born to BPL families after 31st March 2006 are eligible to be enrolled as beneficiaries under the scheme. Enrolment is allowed up to one year of the birth of the child on the submission of the birth certificate. The benefits of the scheme are restricted to two girl children of the BPL family. The father or the mother should have undergone a terminal family planning method and the total number of children should not exceed three. After due verification by the department, when the girl child is enrolled, each beneficiary will be given Rs 10,000 for investing in a fixed deposit in her name. The amount deposited in the financial institution will be maximized and paid along with the accrued interest to the beneficiary on her attainment of 18 years of age. In 2008 the Bhagyalakshmi Scheme was revised. Instead of depositing Rs 10,000, an amount of Rs 19,300 will be deposited with the financial institution in the name of the first girl beneficiary and Rs 18,350 in the name of the second girl beneficiary of the same family.

Limitations:

In a few cases, it was found that people availed the benefits without producing a birth certificate and did not attend the Anganwadi Centre.
Anganwadi workers demanded bribes from the beneficiaries for registration.
Delays in issuing the insurance bonds to the beneficiaries

LADLI SCHEME – HARYANA

In 2005, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the scheme was initiated covering the entire state (137 ICDS Blocks in 20 Districts). The scheme aims to combat the menace of female foeticide, restore a balanced demographic sex ratio, facilitate the birth of more girl children and meet the felt needs of women and girl children. The scheme is being implemented through the Women and Child Development Department. In order to facilitate the birth of more girl children, it was felt that where a second girl child is born, substantial incentives should be provided to families for a period of 5 to10 years. According to many demographic and social studies, the second girl foetus is more vulnerable to elimination as compared to the first pregnancy/ baby born to the couple in their active reproductive age.

Limitations:

Deaths of the girls are not reported by the parents, with the result that the money deposited in the name of beneficiary cannot be returned.
Since the state has limited resources, the central government should support the scheme.

RAKSHAK YOJANA- PUNJAB

This is a state government funded scheme launched in 2005 by the Health and Family Welfare Department. The scheme was formulated against the backdrop of the worsening sex ratio in Punjab. It also has a strong component to motivate the couples to adopt the terminal method of sterilization in order to stabilize the growth rate of the population. Though the scheme was announced five years ago with much publicity, it has had limited impact. Up till March 2010, the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme was only 306.

Objectives of the Scheme

To promote the cause of the girl child for correcting the skewed sex ratio in Punjab
To stabilize the population by motivating couples to adopt terminal method
To reduce infant mortality rate by declining the number of higher birth order.

MUKHYA MANTRI KANYA SURAKSHA YOJANA -BIHAR

Mukhya Mantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana was started keeping in mind the rightful place of pride for a girl child in society and to assure her both safety and security. The scheme hoped to improve the sex ratio and encourage the registration of births. The scheme is in operation in all 38 districts. It was initiated in July 2008 by the Social Welfare Department, the Women Development Corporation (WDC) and the UTI asset management company. It estimated an amount of Rs 140 crore to empower over 7 lakh girls and women in need (within the state). As per the agreement, the state government will invest Rs 2,000 for the first two girls from a family living under the below poverty line (BPL) and born on or after November 22nd 2007. The amount of Rs. 2,000 will be invested by the Women Development Corporation on behalf of the government of Bihar, in UTI Children’s Career Balanced Plan Group option. On completion of 18 years, the girl child will be paid an amount equal to the maturity value (Rs 18,000). This money could be utilized towards pursuing higher education or starting a small business if the girl wishes to do so. In case of the death of the girl child during the intervening period, the amount will be paid back to the Women Development Corporation.

Objectives

To prevent sex selection
To promote birth of the girl child
To ensure the rightful place of pride in society for a girl child, to assure her of her safety and security
To improve the sex ratio
To encourage registration of births

Limitations:

Anganwadi workers are not giving enough attention to register the right beneficiaries.
More beneficiaries cannot be enrolled due to shortage of funds.
Amount eligible to the beneficiary should be increased substantially.
Anganwadi workers ask the beneficiaries for money to fill the application forms.
Many of the beneficiaries have no idea about the scheme and they are solely dependent upon the Anganwadi worker s.
Block officials were collecting money to process the application.
Periodic incentives may be more attractive rather than giving one time financial benefit after a long gap.

INDIRA GANDHI BALIKA SURAKSHA YOJANA – HIMACHAL PRADESH

This scheme was introduced in 2007 by the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The objective of the scheme is to improve the deteriorating sex ratio, to encourage the small family norm and to promote gender equality. The beneficiaries of the scheme are couples who adopt a permanent method of family planning after having one girl child or two girl children. There should not be any male child.

Limitations:

Lack of adequate publicity
No monitoring mechanism in place.

KISHORI SHAKTI YOJANA – UTTAR PRADESH:

According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, GOI, 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 is being implemented through Anganwadi Centres in both rural and urban areas. The scheme aims at breaking the inter-generational 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;
to provide the required literacy and numeracy skills through the non-formal stream of education; to stimulate a desire for more social exposure and knowledge and to help them improve their decision making capabilities;
to train and equip the adolescent girls to improve/ upgrade home-based and vocational skills;
to promote awareness about health, hygiene, nutrition, family welfare, home management and child care, and to take all measures to facilitate their marrying only after attaining the age of 18 years and if possible, even later;
to enable them to gain a better understanding of their environment related social issues and the impact on their lives; and
to encourage adolescent girls to initiate various activities to be productive and useful members of the society.

BALIKA SAMRUDDHI YOJNA – GUJARAT

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-economic-educational 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.

CHIRANJEEVI YOJANA IN GUJARAT:

The Chiranjeevi (long life) Yojana (CY) is a scheme based on the public-private partnership (PPP) model in which a poor woman can go to an empanelled private nursing homes for delivery, the cost to be borne by the state government. Moreover, eligible women are also entitled to receive Rs 200 towards transport cost and Rs 50 for the accompanying person. Thus, CY aims to remove financial barriers for the poor in accessing qualified private providers. The empanelled private providers (EPPS) have to agree to perform free delivery for women designated below the poverty line (BPL)

Chiranjeevi Yojana was launched in five poor districts of the state on a pilot basis in December 2005, and from January 2007 it has been extended to the entire state. The Chiranjeevi Yojana is considered to be a successful PPP model and has also received a prestigious Asian Innovations Award given by the Wall Street Journal. It is a flagship scheme of the Gujarat state ministry of health and family welfare and is being recommended for scaling up at the national level. It has been claimed by the government that maternal as well as neo-natal deaths have been substantially reduced under the scheme.

B. WOMEN AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ACROSS INDIAN STATES

KUDUMBASREE PROGRAMME IN KERALA

Kudumbasree is a Programme under the Poverty Eradication Mission (PEM) of the Government of Kerala, which came into existence since 1997. The PEM is a Government Organised Non-Governmental Organization (GONGO), directly supervised by the Local Administration Department of the Government of Kerala.

The principal objective of Kudumbasree is the eradication of absolute poverty from the State of Kerala within a decade and the strategy slogan of the Mission is “reaching families through women and reaching the community through families”. Women empowerment initiatives, micro finance operations, micro enterprise and convergent action constitute the core activities of Kudumbasree, carried out through organizations of women below the poverty line. Kudumbasree works through a community based organization of the poor called Community Development Society (CDS), which has a three-tier structure as explained above.

The concept of Kudumbasree programme is conceived as a poverty eradication strategy and at the same time as a programme – implemented both in rural as well as in urban areas. It has a Central Office at Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala, three Regional Offices at Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Trivandrum, 14 District Mission Coordinating Offices and necessary staff support from Gram Panchayat level.

In Kerala, in order to implement the above-mentioned programmes and schemes under the aegis of Kudumbasree, the community based organizational structure created is known as Community Development Society (CDS). The CDS has a three-tier organizational structure. At the grass root level every poor family in a neighbourhood, each represented by a woman, is organized into a Neighbourhood Group (NHG), covering about 20 to 40 households. A team of five barefoot organizers, consisting of Community Health Volunteer, Community Infrastructure Volunteer, Community Income Generation Volunteer, Secretary and President are at the helm of every NHG. The NHGs are federated at ward level Area Development Societies (ADSs) and then further networked into Community Development Societies (CDSs) at the Panchayat, Municipality or Corporation level (Economic Review, 2001). The NHG/ADS/CDS system was initiated in Alappuzha Municipality while implementing UBS and UBSP Programmes, during the eighth Five Year Plan, and then extended to all the Corporations, Municipalities and Gram Panchayats through out Kerala.

At present there are 45,405 SHGs under Kudumbasree catering to the needs of about 10 lakh poor families. Total thrift collection is Rs. 38.7 crore and thrift loan given through these SHGs amounts to 30.08 crore. Kudumbasree gives great importance to micro enterprises both individual and collective. There are about 11,042 individual micro enterprises and 711 group micro enterprises functioning under Kudumbasree. Bank loan utilized for these enterprises is Rs.6.06 crore and the subsidy amount is Rs.5.71 crore. The role played by Kudumbasree in poverty eradication in Kerala has been recognized and awarded by various international agencies (for details see MHRD, Dept. of Women and Child Development, 2004; Devika, J and Binitha V. Thampi. 2007).

SAKHI MANDAL YOJNA IN GUJARAT:

Sakhi Mandals are formation of women self help groups based on thrift and credit principles. They 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.

30% JOB RESERVATION FOR WOMEN IN KARNATAKA STATE:

Government of Karnataka vide order No DPAR 34 SRR 95 dated 06-03-1996 has directed that in all direct recruitments 30% of the vacancies shall be filled from among women candidates vide government order dated 15.7.1996. Guidelines have been issued for fixing roaster points. Out of the sanctioned 49628 posts in 96 departments and 76 Boards/ Corporations, 14888 posts were reserved for women, so far 20134 posts have been filled.

SWAYAMSIDH YOJNA – SELF RELIANCE AND EMPOWERMENT IN GUJARAT

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.

RMK SCHEME IN ANDAMAN

According to Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2011, Mercury Self Help Group, Buniyadabad promoted by Yuvasakthi started on 21/09/2010 with 14 members. The Group started collecting saving at their monthly meeting and deposited in the savings bank account maintained with ANSC Bank Ltd., Haddo. There after they started lending among themselves and increased savings `36,400/- Yuvasakthi has arranged credit linkage with ANSC Bank for ` 25,000/- during 18/02/2011 and Mercury has successfully completed the loan. Again the group has approached Yuvasakthi for loan to enter into individual income generation. On due assessment a sum of ` 2,00,000/- was sanctioned on 26/06/2011. As an example, this loan facility was availed by Smti Chitra Ravi and she took ` 25,000/- and invested it in her business (Fancy Stores). She purchased fancy items and school stationary. Earlier she had arranged this shop through bank loan. Now she is doing the turnover of ` 40,000/- every month and earning ` 4,000/- to ` 5,000/- and she is repaying the loan amount in time. Her children are studying in good schools and she is not dependent on her husband for any of her family needs. She expressed her gratitude to Yuvasakthi RMK loan support which enabled her to become what she is now.

RMK SCHEME IN MANIPUR

All Backward Classes & Economic Development Organization (ABCEDO), Samaram Bazar, Thoubal District of Manipur is implementing a number of socio-economic development programmes through Self Help Groups. One of the remarkable achievements of the organization is its Micro-Credit Programme supported by RMK. The organization has 64 Women SHGs. Some of the Groups have taken up vegetable farming to promote their economic status. Some of the members of these SHGs took 2 hectare of land on lease at Rs.40,000/- and planted 50 thousan cabbage plants and also some seasonal vegetables. This investment of Rs.40,000/- gave them a profit of Rs.2,39,000/-. This has encouraged them to go for agricultural inputs like tractor and encourage other members of group to join the SHGs so that they also become financially strong and independent (According to Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2011).

RMK SCHEME IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Mrs. Jhansi Lakshmi, wife of Shri B. Guruvamandadi is one of the group members of Balaji Sangham Dasarimatam Self Help Group sponsored by Rashtriya Seva Samiti (RASS). She was given proper training for Mango – Ginger Pickle making, Mango-Avakaya, Lemon, Ginger, Ginger with Garlic, Ginger without garlic, Onion, Red Chillies, Bitter Guard, Amla, Pudina, etc. This business is showing good results and the woman is getting good return on these products. Her profit has made her life comfortable. Her status in society has increased. She intends to expand the business after some improvement. Her business is attracting other women of the area to form SHG and do some business collectively. This was possible through the micro-credit assistance from RMK through RASS (According to Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2011).

RMK SCHEME IN TAMIL NADU

This is the story of village Usilampatti under Palaapatti Panchayat of TN. It is a drought prone village too. The people of this village belong to Muthuraja caste and are most backward and poor. The village is gender biased and thus the condition of women is pathetic. However, the Society for Development of Human Abilities and Environment called OAZONE, a grass root NGO partner of RMK started forming Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a view to help them get out of the clutches of moneylenders. A group of 30 women was formed and given training for rope making. Rope making was their traditional occupation. For making ropes, fibers from the leaves of a plant called Agave is used as raw material. This plant is found in drought prone and wastelands area.

Therefore, some women started harvesting the leaves of AGAVE for making ropes. Before joining the SHGs these women use to sell their product to the middleman who in turn paid them less money and kept some amount as deposit with him. The condition of these women did not improve. However, after joining the SHGs they could get micro credit assistance from RMK through the NGO – OAZONE. With this loan they started Producers’ Cooperative to oversee the production and marketing activities of their product. The micro credit helped them in procuring raw material. They are now in a position to get good return for their products and are free from the clutches of moneylenders. They have a regular income of Rs.100/- to Rs.150/- per day. The regular income has raised their standard of living, social status and their say in the family affairs.

RMK SCHEME IN WEST BENGAL

This is the story of Mrs. Rosonara Halder, W/o Abu Siddik Halder, Vill. – Nij Uttarpara, P.S. – Joynagar, Distt. – South 24-Parganas, West Bengal a member of one of the SHGs formed by Human Development Centre (HDC). HDC is a grass root NGO partner of RMK. Mrs. Halder is from a very poor family. In the absence of regular income her family was very much disturbed. It was very difficult for the family to survive. The family consisted of husband wife and 2 children. Mrs. Rosonara Halder came to know about HDC NGO through her neighbours. She joined one of the Groups. HDC applied for loan from RMK. Micro-finance assistance and received from RMK, a loan of ` 3000/-She opened a small tea stall by the side of her house. Gradually she expanded her business with regular help from HDC. Her financial income improved in the course of time. This helped her to educate her children. The children are now studying in a school. Apart from the Tea Stall she has now opened a meat shop also. This has increased her monthly income from Nil to over ` 8000/- per month. Now she has no family problem and is a happy family. This has happened with the help of micro-finance credit from RMK (According to Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2011).

RMK SCHEME IN JHARKHAND

Mrs. Subhadra Mahto from Village Damudhi in Potka Block of East Singhbhum district, got married when she was very young. She could study only upto 6th class, but had big dreams. She always thought about how she could earn money of her own andbecome independent. But with such poor educational it seemed impossible.

On the other hand the husband of Mrs. Subhadra’s was a labourer working with a contractor. The couple had no adequate farm land for livelihood. So there was crisis in the family, as day to day expenses were difficult to manage. The situation was more difficult during drought and famine. Her husband suddenly met with an accident and got his leg injured. As a result of this his monthly income was reduced to ` 250/- per day from ` 380/ per day. Conditions were turning bad to worse for them. Daily bread was difficult to come by.

A Ray of Hope and answer to all her questions was found immediately after her joining SHG. She realized that she was not alone. There were other women in the group to help her. The representative of the NGO explained to her how she could take a loan of 10,000-35,000 from RMK under Main Loan Scheme to meet emergency situations which could be house repair, medical emergency or starting a business enterprise or advance agricultural farming etc (According to Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2011). This information helped her to get some stability for her family.

C. WOMEN AND SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT ACROSS INDIAN STATES

LADLI LAKSHMI YOJANA – MADHYA PRADESH

In April 2007, the state government launched the Ladli Lakshmi Yojana for fostering a positive attitude for girl children in society. This initiative hopes to improve the gender ratio, the education and health of girls and lay the foundation for their future. The popularity of the Ladli Lakshmi Yojana among the people living in the remotest areas of the state can be gauged by the fact that in 2007, 40,000 girls benefitted against the set target of 30,000.

Objectives

To bring a positive change towards the birth of the girl child
To discourage child marriages and encourage marriages at or after the legally prescribed minimum age for marriage
To improve girls’ education and health, alter the gender balance and encourage family planning
To create a situation that will prevent female infanticide
To ensure that the girl child gets school education
To bring about convergence in the Department of Health, Education, DWCD, Registrar of Births and Deaths to work together
To protect the girl child’s fundamental rights relating to life, health, education, psychological well being and economic empowerment
To improve the health status of those mothers who have to undergo multiple pregnancies for want of a boy, thus reducing MMR and increasing the use of family planning

Limitations:

Explaining the scheme to the people poses a problem.
People are suspicious about the benefits promised.
Lengthy process of the completion of departmental formalities and collection of documents.
Incidences of corruption are reported at the time of registration of the scheme.
Timely availability of NSC.
Delays in registration of the beneficiaries.

LADLI SCHEME-DELHI

This scheme was launched in the National Capital Territory of Delhi on 1st January 2008 with the aim of ending discrimination against girls and promoting their education. The scheme aims at enhancing the social status of the girl child both in society and within her family, ensuring proper education to make the girls self-reliant. It attempts to provide economic security and protect them from discrimination and deprivation. In order to mould the traditional mindset of the people towards the birth of a girl child, the government provides financial assistance at the time of her birth. In order to impart education to girls, increase their presence in schools and reduce their dropout rates, the government sanctions financial assistance to school going girls. Another objective of the Ladli Scheme is to encourage the registration of birth of the girl child. The financial partners of the Delhi government for implementing the scheme are SBI Life Insurance Company Limited (SBIL) and the State Bank of India. The financial assistance sanctioned by the government in favour of girls is deposited with SBIL till the girl becomes eligible for claiming the maturity value.

Limitations:

Delay in submitting the application and lack of essential documents (in school going and birth cases) prevented some from registering for the scheme.
Lack of co-ordination between different stakeholders like the Education Department and NDMC.
Shortage of staff and infrastructure at district level offices.
Officers of the Education Department felt that promoting the scheme was not part of their responsibility.

BALIKA SAMRIDHI YOJANA (BSY)- GUJARAT

The Balika Samridhi Yojana was launched by the Government of India with effect from 15th August, 1997. During 1999 -2000, the Government of India recast the scheme. The benefits and the means of delivery were redesigned to ensure that financial benefits accrue for the girl child. The Balika Samridhi Yojana (BSY) was initiated with a view to change the negative attitude of the family and society towards girl children, to increase the enrolment and attendance of girls in schools, to ensure that their marriages take place after the age of 18, and to support the girl children financially, .

Earlier, it was in operation with 100 percent financial assistance from the Government of India through the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Later, it was decided that the BSY scheme will be transferred to the states and funds were released. Though the Government of India has discontinued the scheme, the state Government has been implementing it since 2006-07 for the beneficiaries of BPL families.

BETI HAI ANMOL SCHEME – HIMACHAL PRADESH

The BSY was discontinued by the state government in July 2010 and a new scheme, ‘Beti Hai Anmol’ was initiated by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. The eligibility conditions to avail the scheme are the same as those of Balika Samridhi Yojana. However, some modifications were made in the benefits provided under the scheme. The post -birth grant has been increased to Rs 5,100 and is deposited in an interest bearing account in the name of the girl beneficiary and the officer of the state government. On attaining adulthood (18 years of age), the beneficiary can withdraw the amount from her account. Annual scholarships ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 1,500 (up to 10+2 level) will be provided to the girl when she starts going to school. The scheme will help the beneficiary to complete her education up to 10+2 level and prevent an early marriage.

MUKHYA MANTRI KANYA VIVAH SCHEME – BIHAR

In February 2008, the President of India launched Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, a scheme towards the empowerment of women in Bihar. This scheme has been designed to financially support the marriages of girls from economically disadvantaged families. This scheme also attempts to act as a catalyst against social evils like child marriage and dowry. National efforts towards getting marriages registered would be facilitated by this scheme as financial assistance would be made available only when a marriage is registered.

Objectives

To provide economic support for marriages of girls belonging to poor families
To remove social evils like child marriage and dowry
To prevent domestic violence
To promote marriage registration

Limitations:

The programme is not demand-driven so far
Local officials go in search of beneficiaries according to the budgetary allocation.
There was considerable delay in receiving the amount
Delay in opening an account in the bank
Bribe paid to the officials

KUNWAR BAINUMAMERU SCHEME- GUJARAT

This scheme was initiated in 1995 -96 to prevent child marriages. The objective of the scheme is to help poor families belonging to Scheduled Castes/Tribes and other backward classes at the time of marriage of their girl child. The scheme covers the entire state and is implemented through the Social Justice and Empowerment Department. The girls belonging to economically backward classes and Scheduled Castes were given Rs.5, 000 as financial assistance at the time of marriage.

MUKHYA MANTRI KANYADAN YOJANA – MADHYA PRADESH

The scheme was introduced in April 2006 to provide financial support to girls of marriageable age from poor families including destitute, widows and divorcees. It is being implemented through Department of Social Justice covering the entire state. The eligibility criteria that a person or family should fulfill to be a beneficiary of the scheme include – the family should be domiciles of Madhya Pradesh and should currently be living there, the family of the applicant girl should be poor, and the age of the girl should be 18 years or more. No cash incentives are given to the beneficiary. Every beneficiary is provided in kind- clothes, ornaments, utensils, pressure cooker, LPG gas cylinder and stove, sewing machine, etc. worth of Rs. 9,000. The organization which conducts the marriage function is given Rs. 1,000 to meet the expenses.

Limitations:

Problems in getting age certificate
There were instances where girls below 18 years of age got married

DWCRA BANASKANTHA PROJECT:

In 1988, a joint venture was launched in the state of Gujarat, where the Self-Employed Women’s Association, SEWA has its headquarters. The Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) is an initiative that is co-funded by the central and state governments, under the Integrated Rural Development Programs (IRDP, 1980), and UNICEF. DWCRA provides self-employment opportunities to poor women to “enable their organized participation in social development and economic self-reliance” (Verma et al., 1996). Implemented at the district level, all rural women whose incomes fall below the poverty line are eligible. The goal of DWCRA is to increase the earning capacity of poor women through their collective economic activities at the local level (Nanavaty, 1994, p. 9). Groups of 10-15 are given a grant of Rs. 25,000 to work on projects based on the traditional crafts and skills they know. In Banaskantha, the DWCRA program has been instrumental in organizing women in different trades and crafts. A study of two such groups, artisans (who produce handicrafts) and gum collectors (who collect gum from trees), shows interesting results. After its involvement in the program, the latter group stopped cutting trees, which they did do for a living; they now plant trees instead. The former group was bound to local markets and hard to organize in cooperatives due to diversity in the type of crafts they produced. Also, the formal structure and record keeping necessary for the success of a cooperative, were absent in rural areas. SEWA helped form organizations along particular crafts embroidery, patchwork, and beadwork? which were registered with the District Rural Development Agency. First, in collaboration with the local village government (Panchayat), it helps women create list of those engaged in particular crafts. Second, meetings are organized to communicate to village women what the purpose of the group is, and how they can participate in and benefit from it. Third, groups then select leaders who will operate their bank account, maintain registers, distribute and supervise the work, and maintain business records. Organizers of SEWA train the leaders. Finally, marketing networks are explored and products are marketed in big cities in the region. “Banascraft,” the DWCRA group in the Banaskantha district, procures goods from fifty-two different groups in various districts.

KARNATAKA MAHILA ABHIVRUDHI YOJANE

Karnataka is the first state in the country to introduce a scheme of inter-sectoral allocations for women. The scheme is to earmark one third of resources for women in individual beneficiary oriented schemes and labour intensive schemes of various departments of government. The department launched Karnataka Mahila Abhivrudhi Yojane (KMAY) during 1995-96 to ensure gender equality and to integrate women in the mainstream of development. It was a land mark government order as it was for the first time that a conscious and positive attempt was made by Government to address gender issues. During 2006-07, 25 departments had identified 208 schemes. Out of the total outlay of Rs 2320.41 crores one third allocation for women is Rs 1057.83 crores. of which an amount of Rs 1034.04 crores has been incurred as at the end of February 2007. KMAY cell was created in the year 2003 in the directorate to function as a nodal department to monitor the KMAY programme.

SWADHAR – A SCHEME FOR WOMEN IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

Objectives:

To provide shelter, food, clothing, and care to the marginalized women/girls living in difficult circumstances
To rehabilitate them socially and economically through education, awareness, skill up gradation and personality development through behavioural training etc.
To provide for help line or other facilities to such women in distress
To provide such other services as will be required for the support and rehabilitation to such women in distress.

Eligibility: The implementing organizations must fulfill the following conditions

The organization should be registered under law and must have a properly constituted managing body with its powers, duties and responsibilities clearly defined and laid down in its constitution.
The organization must not work for the profit of any individual or body of individuals.
It should have three years experience after its registration.
Its financial position should be sound.
It should have facilities, resources, experience and personnel to initiate the scheme for which assistance is sought.

Pattern of Assistance: The types of assistance provided to the implementing organization are:

Partial assistance for purchase of land for setting up a centre
75% assistance for construction of building for the cent
100% assistance by G.O.I for:-

i) building/ rent for the centre

ii) administration and management

iii) other recurring expenditure

iv) other non-recurring expenditure

v) Help line for women in distress

GAURAV NARI NITI – WOMEN’S PRIDE, GENDER EQUALITY (IN GUJARAT)

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 department 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.

GIRL CHILD PROTECTION IN GOA:

The state of Goa has introduced landmark legislation for the protection of children, particularly to ensure elimination of all forms of discrimination against the girl child and to prevent pre-natal sex selection and female foeticide and female infanticide and foeticide. The Goa Children Act (2003) seeks to protect the rights of the child, and gives special attention to the needs of the girl child and the elimination of all gender biases. It bans child prostitution and all forms of trafficking of girl child and sexual abuse

D. WOMEN AND POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT ACROSS INDIAN STATES

WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN ANDHRA PRADESH:

The composition of Gram Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh is governed by the Andhra Pradesh Gram Panchayats Act, 1964 as amended time to time. Andhra Pradesh Mandal Praja Parishad, Zilla Praja Parishad and Zilla Abhivrudhi Sameeksha Mandal Act, 1986 had a provision for reservation of minimum of two and a maximum of four seats for women in Gram Panchayats and some percentage in Mandal Praja Parishad and Zilla Praja Parishad. Some percentage of the posts of Chairperson of the Zilla Parishad were also reserved for women. As a result of the 73rd Amendment a large number of women belonging to different castes and communities have been elected as members and chairpersons in the Panchayats. Although the Act has mandated one third reservation for women as members as well as chairpersons at different tiers of the Panchayats, in Andhra Pradesh, women have captured more than one third seats. The representation of women at this level has been 33.84 percent.

WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN KERALA:

Having a well established decentralized democratic system, Kerala also introduced res-ervation policies and revised them over time. Recently, the state introduced a new reservation policy that extends women’s reservation in Panchayats (elected local bodies) from 33 to 50 per cent. A detailed discussion on the fact, that such a radical change (without much controversy) never took place in other levels of electoral democracy and the basic political and socio economic forces which enabled Kerala to implement the revised reservation policy, are beyond the scope of this article. As per the revised reservation policy, the share of seats and the positions of president and vice president reserved for women was increased to 50 per cent at all the three levels, Gram Panchayats (GPs), Block Panchayats and District Panchayats.

The election, held in October 2010 (on 23rd and 25th October), is particularly important as it was the first one after implementing a revised reservation policy. As per the new policy regime, 11,135 seats (out of 21,612 seats) and the leadership of 605 local bodies (out of 1,208) in Kerala are reserved for women.3 This includes 489 village councils, 76 block councils, seven district councils, 30 municipalities and three corporations in the state.

WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN KARNATAKA (MAHILA SAMAKHYA PROGRAMME):

With one-third reservation for women in the panchayati raj institutions – and serious lobbying for similar reservation in state assemblies and the Lok Sabha – the progressive women’s movement in the country must now formulate a strategy for accessing political power while simultaneously maintaining a supra-political stance. It is in this context that a small experiment undertaken by the Mahila Samakhya programme in Karnataka can provide several insights about such a strategy.

The Karnataka government under the visionary leadership of rural development minister Nasir saab, enacted a radical new Panchayati Raj Act in 1985, designed to genuinely devolve power to democratically elected local self-government bodies. The 1985 act created a two-tiered system of local government: the zilla parishad at the district level, and the mandal panchayat covering approximately 15,000 population at the village level.’ The most unique and historical character of the act, however, lay in its reservation of 25 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies for women, cutting across other reservation categories such as SC, ST, OBC, etc. In the panchayat elections held in 1987, therefore, 26.65 per cent of the 821 members elected to the zilla parishads, and 25.41 per cent of the 55,188 members elected to the mandal panchayats, were women.

It was in the context of this fully functioning local self-government system that the Mahila Samakhya programme (hereafter, MS) was launched in three districts, Bidar, Bijapur and Mysore (the programme expanded into the districts of Gulbarga and Raichur in 1991, and currently covers over 700 villages in the five districts) early in 1989. The stated objective of Mahila Samakhya was ‘Education for Women’s Empowerment’, where education was redefined to signify a process of consciousness raising, organizing and broadening the awareness and skills of poor rural women to take control of their lives. Literacy and girl child schooling were important goals of the programme, but rather than make them ends in themselves, the approach was to create a demand for them as one of the several means by which the nature of existing gender and social relations could be transformed.

In Karnataka, MS’s basic strategy was to organize poor rural women into collectives. The focus was thus on the building of mahila sanghas by the programme’s activists, known as sahayoginis, each working in about 10 villages/hamlets. The sanghas were to evolve gradually, over as much as a year or more, as a unique space and forum needed and owned by its members, rather than as externally created entities that collapse when MS withdrew. Since a significant number of grass roots women in the villages selected by MS were members of the mandal and zilla panchayats, it was quite natural that many women panchayat raj institution (PRI) members became active in the emerging mahila sanghas. Thus, In Karnataka, which was the first state to guarantee participation of women in local governance through reservation, the actual representation of women has gone up to 45% (Batliwala, 1996).

WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN GUJARAT:

In conformity with the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act 1993, the Gujarat Panchayat Act 1993 came into force on 15th April 1993. The Act continues the three tier Panchayati Raj structure at the village, block and district levels. There is provision for reservation of seats for SCs and STs in all Panchayats in proportion to their population and ten percent reservation for the socially and economically backward classes / other backward classes along with reservation of one third of the total number of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions at all three levels.

NARI ADALAT IN GUJARAT:

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 women’s 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.

E. WOMEN AND SEXUAL ABUSES ACROSS INDIAN STATES

In Andhra Pradesh, establishment of a State policy for trafficking of women and children, Creation of a Relief Fund for providing relief to trafficked persons; Special rehabilitation measures for Devadasi.
In Tamil Naidu, there is creation of Anti Vice Squad exclusively to deal with trafficking; Creation of District Advisory Committees and Village level Watchdog Committees; Creation of Social Defence Welfare Fund for rehabilitation of women and children; Comprehensive mapping of trafficking in terms of source, transit and destination points; Exposure of women police officials to basic counseling courses; Creation of a crisis intervention centre to prevent child abuse.
In Madhya Pradesh, launching of Jabali Scheme to focus on welfare and development of trafficked women and children.

F. WOMEN AND VIOLENCE ACROSS INDIAN STATES

PROJECT PRAHARI IN ASSAM:

An initiative in community policing – In village after village in Assam, a unique community policing initiative is changing the face of society and encouraging community participation for sustainable development. From a small beginning in a remote backward village in militancy affected Kokrajahar district of Assam, Project Prahari, an acronym for ‘people for progress’ is now a state level initiative. The aim of the project is to infuse a sense of empowerment in the people to resolve conflict situations affecting their daily lives by means of community participation, decision-making and mobilizing local resources to achieve sustainable development.

Thrust areas range from income generation ventures for women and youth, infrastructure development, education, health and hygiene and adaptation of technology to local needs. Community management groups with representation of all groups and majority participation of women are constituted in each village. This group draws up an action plan tuned to the needs of the community. The police act as change agents facilitating networking and tie-ups with developmental agencies. Crime in the area has decreased, dacoits have been rehabilitated and unemployed youth have channelized their energies into making better lives for themselves and their communities.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW)

Sensitization of the police force is essential to counter violence against women (VAW). The Annual Conference of highest State level police officials includes a session on violence against women. All-women police stations have been set up in as many as 14 states to facilitate the reporting of crime against women.

The emergence of community level responses to VAW initiated and sustained by grassroots collectives is especially heartening. For example, Nari Adalat and Mahila Panch have emerged out of the collectives formed under the Mahila Samakhya programme in select districts of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. They function outside the formal legal system and use community pressure and informal social control and mechanisms to punish perpetrators of violence and restore women’s rights within the family. Cases of domestic violence, rape, child sexual abuse, and harassment are handled. Some other examples of such collectives are Sahara Sangh, the support groups in Tehri-Garhwal district of Uttaranchal

VIOLENCE AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED WOMEN

Recommendations

Formulate a national policy for the resettlement of internally displaced within a specific time frame.
Attention should be given to ‘Internally Displaced People’ with special emphasis on women & children in conflict areas like Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura. Displacement also leads to internal migration where women have become totally vulnerable. They are reported to have left their homes and have resorted to work as domestic servants, liquor vendors, sex work and the like. Such issues and their solutions should be incorporated into policies
Conduct surveys of physical structure, livelihood and job opportunities, and basic requirements of people.

WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH-EAST

The conflict situation in the North East is rooted in lack of income and employment. The Look East policy of the GOI could be a valuable device to open opportunities. Of special attention are issues related to introducing new avenues for non-farming activities of women – food processing, bottling, canning and packaging.

Attention needs to be paid to creating job oriented skills for manufacture of indigenous products, popularizing indigenous cuisine in the potential tourist areas and highways, skills in hotel management, creating travel guides to depict north east histories, cultures and traditional assets etc.

Women are the most vulnerable section of society in Border trade centres and areas, which are adjacent to international borders and normally a ‘no-man’s land’ are controlled by anti-social elements and organizations that are inimical to the interests of the country. Under the circumstances, women, who are the major component in border trades, especially in agriculture and allied activities, are under severe threat. Matters are compounded by problems of infrastructure and facilities, which are either most rudimentary or simply do not exist. Access to health, education, drinking water, and sanitation, etc, is almost impossible, which adversely affect health.

Border Trade Centres/Areas besides normally being hot beds of smuggling, particularly of narcotics, also are centres of trafficking of women and children. Women are rendered vulnerable to all kinds of diseases, especially STD, HIV/AIDS. Women are also used or forced into smuggling of narcotics, which makes them further vulnerable to law-enforcing agencies that are not sensitized to dealing with women law-breakers. The circle gets more vicious for women in these areas, many of whom are either illiterate or have received only rudimentary education and cannot be expected to be aware of their fundamental, human, legal and other rights. Problems of communication, organized marketing and non-implementation of labor laws also adversely affect women’s economic power, which in turn reinforces them to play subservient roles and their empowerment continues to remain illusionary and elusive.

It is therefore suggested that some mechanism is set-up in Border Trade Centres and Areas to enforce the law of the land, as also to implement and monitor all fundamental, human, legal and other rights to ensure that no citizen of this country is denied and deprived of them.

Enhancing the utilization of the region’s local and rich natural resources with appropriate technology for producing and marketing herbal products and processed food/fruits is another avenue to meet with the challenge posed by anti-social elements. Cold storages can be located in appropriate areas of the region, to sustain perishable items before they are transported to larger markets.

you can view video on Mapping Women and Girl Child related initiatives across the Indian states

REFERENCES:

Acharya, Akash and Paul Mcnamee, 2009. Assessing Gujarat’s ‘Chiranjeevi’ Scheme, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 44, No. 48, NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 4, pp. 13-15
Batliwala, Srilatha. 1996. Transforming of Political Culture: Mahila Samakhya Experience, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 31, No. 21 (May 25, 1996), pp. 1248-1251
Datta, Rekha. 2003. From Development to Empowerment: The Self-Employed Women’s Association in India, International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, Vol. 16, No. 3, Toward Gender Equity: Policies and Strategies (Spring, 2003), pp. 351-368
Devika, J and Binitha V. Thampi. 2007. Between ‘Empowerment’ and ‘Liberation’ The Kudumbashree Initiative in Kerala, Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 14:1
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Women and Child Development Report. 2004. A comparative study of self help groups (SHGs) organised and promoted by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and Kudumbasree – A government organised nongovernmental organisation (GONGO) in Kerala, towards empowerment of poor women, Loyola Extension Services, Loyola College of Social Sciences Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2011. Annual Report of RMK for the financial year 2010-2011, GoI.
Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2015. Annual Report 2014-2015, GoI.
Ministry of Women and Child Development, GOI & Formative Research and Development Services, New Delhi, Final Report, Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) under the ambit of ICDS in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
Nanavaty, Reema. 1994. We Can, We Will: Women’s Empowerment and DWCRA Program. SEWA Paper Series, Working paper No. 3. Ahmedabad, India: SEWA Academy.
Platform India Country Report for Action. 2013-15. Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi
Report of the working group on empowerment of women for the XI Plan, Ministry Of Women And Child Development, Government of India, New Delhi
Sekher. T.V. 2010. Special Financial Incentive Schemes for The Girl Child In India: A Review Of Select Schemes, The Planning Commission, Government of India
Sengupta, Nilanjana. 2013. Poor Women’s Empowerment: The Discursive Space of Microfinance, Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 20(2) 279–304
Varma, A.P, Rehman, M.M., and Chauhan, Poonam S. 1994. Women Labor in India. Noida, India: V. V. Giri National Labor Institute
Working Group on Development of Children for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012), A Report, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India

Web links:

http://www.wcd.nic.in
http://www.nmew.gov.in
http://www.sewa.org