INTERNATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY
Copyright infringement not intended
In News
- International Girl Child Day is observed on 11th October 2022.
- The Day was declared by the United Nations in 2012.
- The objective is to promote more opportunity for girls and increases awareness about gender inequality faced by girls; limited access to education, nutrition, legal rights, and medical care.
- Promote awareness about discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage.
Status of Girl children in India
- According to the recently published National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report;
- India recorded a total number of 1, 49,404 cases of crimes against children in 2021.
- 6% of the victims were girls.
- West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh together account for close to half (47. 1 %) of the total crimes committed against children across the country.
- Many cases of crimes against children usually go unrecorded, especially in remote areas. Therefore, the real number may be much higher than those reported.
- According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), the prevalence of underage marriages remains high, with 23% of women married before the age of 18. At the same time, the detection of such marriages remains low, with only 785 cases registered under the law in 2020.
- This raises the question of whether the increase in the minimum age would have any significant impact on reducing child marriages.
Concern
- Lack of crime Reporting.
- Slow Criminal Justice System.
- Inadequate Implementation of law.
- Poor Gender Sensitization of law enforcing agencies like Police, Judiciary etc.
- Various Social factors like level of education/illiteracy, Poverty, Social Customs and values, religious beliefs, and the mindset of the Society.
- The lack of infrastructure Such as Safe Spaces for women, Safe transport Systems, and Proper toilets makes it a dangerous place for women and girls.
- Hostile Environment of investigation to victims of Sexual violence.
- Social Conceptions of Shame and victim-blaming - Much Sexual violence happens within a marriage, and marital rape is not a Crime.
Steps taken by the Government
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme to address the declining Child Sex Ratio.
- PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Providing Cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to Pregnant and nursing mothers.
- Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at girls in the age group 11-18, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training
- Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme; to promote community participation through the involvement of Student Volunteers for the empowerment of rural women
- Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income-generating activities at concessional terms
- Swadhar Greh provides relief and rehabilitation to destitute women and women in distress.
- Ujjawala is a Comprehensive Scheme for the prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
- Working Women Hostels for ensuring safe accommodation for women working away from their place of residence.
- One-Stop Centre (OSC) and Women Helpline (WH) are being implemented to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/ case management, psychosocial counselling and temporary support services to women affected by violence.
- Emergency Response Support System Set up under Nirbhaya Fund.
- Mahila Police Volunteers; to report the incidences of violence against women.
- National Database on Sexual offenders, including name, address, Photograph and fingerprint details of those Convicted in Sexual assault Cases.
- Inclusion of Acid Attack as a disability.
- Rashtriya Mahila Kosh; Provide micro-credit to Poor women through NGOs, and SHGs.
- SABLA Scheme; Providing life Skills and Supplementary nutrition to out of School girls.
1.png)
