Ensure State panels for women are set up: SC: 

Ensure State panels for women are set up: SC: 

Context:

• The Supreme Court recently enquired about the existence of State Commissions for Women (SCW).

What is the Supreme Court’s recent call on widows?

• The Supreme Court makes it clear that if State Commissions for Women (SCW) did not exist in the States, then the State governments concerned should be asked to ensure setting up of such panels.
• Also, the Center would provide an affidavit, which contains several steps required to be taken to improve the situation of the destitute widows.

What is National Commission for Women (NCW)?

• The National Commission for Women (NCW) is a statutory body of the Government of India.
• It was established in January 1992 under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, as defined in the 1990 National Commission for Women Act.

Objectives:

• The objective of the NCW is to represent the rights of women in India and to provide a voice for their issues and concerns.
• It is also concerned with advising the government on all policy matters affecting women.
• Dowry, politics, religion, equal representation for women in jobs, and the exploitation of women for labour are their prime subjects.

What is State Commissions for Women (SCW)?

• State Commissions for Women is operated at the State level.
• These are governmental bodies to protect and promote the rights of women in their respective States.

Objectives:

• State Commissions for Women have been endowed with the powers to protect and promote women’s rights throughout the State and especially in situations where women are in need of help of these Commissions.

What are the constitutional rights for women in India?

• The following are the constitutional rights for women in India:
• The state shall not discriminate against any citizen of India on the ground of sex [Article 15(1)].
• The state is empowered to make any special provision for women. In other words, this provision enables the state to make affirmative discrimination in favour of women [Article 15(3)].
• No citizen shall be discriminated against or be ineligible for any employment or office under the state on the ground of sex [Article 16(2)].
• Traffic in human beings and forced labour are prohibited [Article 23(1)].
• The state to secure for men and women equally the right to an adequate means of livelihood [Article 39(a)].
• The state to secure equal pay for equal work for both Indian men and women [Article 39(d)].
• The state is required to ensure that the health and strength of women workers are not abused and that they are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their strength [Article 39(e)].
• The state shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief [Article 42].
• It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women [Article 51-A(e)].
• One-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women [Article 243-D(3)].
• One-third of the total number of offices of chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level shall be reserved for women [Article 243-D(4)].
• One-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality shall be reserved for women [Article 243-T(3)].
• The offices of chairpersons in the Municipalities shall be reserved for women in such manner as the State Legislature may provide [Article 243-T(4)].

What are the recent government initiatives for widows in India?

• The Supreme Court asked the Centre to frame scheme to promote widow remarriage and bring them in mainstream society.
• The court also asked the Centre to update its National Policy for Empowerment of Women.
• And also make provision to impart training to widows so that they become competent enough to earn themselves instead of depending on grants.
• The government has been setting up to come up with a plan to rehabilitate the hapless widows of Vrindavan and other ashrams by November 30, 2017.

What are the measures to be taken?

• Society: The real voice for change must come from within the society.
• Superstition: There should be a change of the superstitious mindset that deprives widows of their right to live.
• Welfare Schemes: Economic problems should be addressed to some extent by formulating welfare schemes for widows.
• Law enforcement: The Center must try strict enforcement of the laws that already exist to ensure women’s rights.
• Education: Education should be the driving force to eliminate ignorance and hardships of the widows in India and worldwide.

What is the status of women in India in the present day context?

• The modern women are inclined towards the social issues, and trying hard to improve the social status of women at large.
• But a majority is still under privileged. The areas to be taken care of are:

Gender inequality:

• In all agricultural activities there is an average gender wage disparity, with women earning only 70 percent of men’s wage or work as unpaid subsistence labor.
• Only after the amendment on September 9, 2005 daughters in India got equal rights to the ancestral property; but it will take time before the society is able to accept the new norms completely.

Social evils:

• Widows in India still face the basic rights for existence, inheritance rights, untouchability, social confinement and lead of life of abstinence.
• The Sabarimala temple has restrictions on the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 years in the shrine because women of menstruating age can’t be allowed on account of religious believes.