Preparation for Public Service Commission Competitive Examination

लोक सेवा आयोग की प्रतियोगी परीक्षा की तैयारी

टेस्‍ट पेपर

बहु विकल्‍पीय प्रश्‍न हल करिये

शार्ट आंसर एवं लेख टाइप

Women Empowerment

Women do not get equal opportunity because our society is male dominated. Even today women have to face domestic violence. There is discrimination against girls. In many States there are still incidents of female feticide and infanticide. In some families discrimination against the girl child is so much that they do not get enough to eat. Women eat the leftovers after men of the family have eaten. For these reasons the death rate of women is higher then men in India. The rank of India for gender gap index calculated by World Economic Forum is 108 in 144 countries. India has slipped by 21 ranks as compared to last year when it was ranked 87th. This index in calculated on the basis of (i) Education achievements, (ii) Health and survival, (iii) economic opportunities and (iv) political empowerment. The gender gap index for India in 2015 was 0.683 which was reduced to 0.669 in 2017. Iceland is at the first place with a gender gap index of 0.878. The status of India in Health and survival is worst with the rank of India in this indicator being fourth from bottom.

Sex Ratio

The sex ratio of India is 1000 males for 943 females. It is a matter of concern that the sex ratio of children 0 ?? 6 years (child sex ratio) is worse at 1000 males for 919 females. It means that our society treats girls so bad that many girls die within a few years of birth. The sex ratio of Chhattisgarh is 1000 males for 991 females. The child sex ratio of Chhattisgarh is 1000 males for 969 females. The sex ratio of Bastar is in favour of women at 1024, Dantewada 1022, Mahasamund 1018, Rajnandgaon 1017, Dhamtari 1012, Kanker 1007 and Jashpur 1004. The worst sex ratio in Chhattisgarh is 971 in Koria, 971 in Korba, 972 in Bilaspur, 976 in Surguja, 982 in Bijapur and 983 in Raipur.

The district wise sex ratio of Chhattisgarh as per 2011 census is – Koria 971, Surguja 976, Jashpur 1004, Raigarh 993, Korba 971, Janjgir-Champa 986, Bilaspur 972, Kabirdham 997, Rajnandgaon 1017, Durg 988, Raipur 983, Mahasamund 1018, Dhamtari 1004, Kanker 1007, Bastar 1024, Narayanpur 998, Dantewada 1022 and Bijapur 982.

Important Statistics

As per census 2011 male literacy in Chhattisgarh is 80.27% and female literacy is 60.24%.
As per NFHS – 4 (2015-16) the statistics for Chhattisgarh are–
1. Only 21.7% women received full ante natal services.
2. 66.2% women received assistance under Janani Suraksha Yojna.
3. Only 70.2% labour have taken place in health centres and hospitals and only 55.9% labour have taken place in Government Institutions.
4. The Body Mass Index (BMI) of 26.7% women is less than normal (18.5 kg/M2).
5. 47% women of 14 to 49 years age are anaemic while 22.2% men in this age group are also anaemic.
6. Only 36.8% women were paid wages in cash in the last one year.
7. Only 26.4% women have ownership rights in house of land alone or jointly.
8. 36.7% women faced domestic violence which is 6.8% higher than the figure of 29.9% of previous year. This is matter of concern.
According to the data of Niti Ayog the Maternal Mortality Rate of Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh in 2014-16 was 173 per 1000 births which is much higher as compared to 130 per 1000 births for India.
According to the Policy Brief – Gender Development in Chhattisgarh – Some Policy prescriptions, document released by OXFAM in November 2017, the budget provision for women in Chhattisgarh for the year 9564 crore rupees in 2015-16 which was 14.7% of total budget and 3.7% of SGPD. This was reduced to rupees 8498 crore in 2015-16 which is only 11.2% of total state budget and 2.9% of SGDP. According to this document 31.5% of the budget provision of 2015-16 remain unutilized.

Areas of Women Empowerment

Following types of empowerment is generally mentioned –

Social Empowerment – Women should get equal opportunity as men for development. They should have an equal say in decision making in the family. For this schemes of education for girl child are necessary e.g. Saraswati Cycle scheme, free education for girls etc. Special officers and special courts for Protection of women from domestic violence. Special provisions have been made for control of crimes against women in the society. For this purpose, special women police stations have also been made. Severe punishment has been provided for sexual offences.
Educational Empowerment – Efforts are being made for equal opportunities of education for girls.
Economic empowerment – Many efforts are being made for economic development of women. Training and skill development for self employment and loans and subsidy for self employment are some examples. Employment opportunities are created through women self help groups. The nutritious food in anganwadis and mid day meal in schools is given through women self help groups. Names of both husband and wife are written in the pattas given by the government. The name of the woman of the household is written as head of the household in ration cards.
Political Empowerment – 50% reservation has been done for seats in Panchayats and urban local bodies. 33% reservation is also done in government services.

Constitutional Provisions for Women Empowerment

Article 14 – Equality before law.
Article 15 (1) – State shall not discriminate on the basis of gender.
Article15 (3) – State can make special provisions for the welfare of women.
Article 16 (2) – No discrimination shall be done on gourds of gender in services under the State.
Article 23 (1) – Ban on Human trafficking and bonded labour.
Article (A) – State shall ensure equal rights of livelihood for men and women.
Article 39 (e) State shall ensure equal pay for equal work for men and women.
Article 42 – State shall make provisions for maternity benefits and human conditions of work.
Article 51-A (e) – It shall be the duty of every citizen to to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
Article 243- D (3) – One third seats in Panchayats shall be reserved for women.
Article 243-D (4) – One third posts of chair persons of Panchayats at all levels shall be reserved for women.
Article 243-T (3) – One third posts to be filled by direct elections in municipalities shall be reserved for women.
Article 243-T (4) – The State legislatures shall be empowered to make law for reservation of posts of chairpersons of municipalities.

Other legal provisions for protection of women

Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 –
1. No women will be made to work by any employer for six weeks after labour or abortion.
2. It is the right of women and duty of employers to give average daily wage to women for 6 weeks starting from the day of labour.
3. The employer can be punished with imprisonment or fine or both for contravention of the provisions of the Act.
4. Recent amendments in the Act –
  1. The period of maternity benefit has been increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks till two children and 12 weeks for more than 2 children.
  2. Maternity benefit both for commissioning mother and adopting mother.
  3. Facility of work from home.
  4. Compulsory provision of crèche for institutions with more than 50 employees.
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (MTP Act)
Legal Provisions with respect to female feticide -
1. Pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques (prohibition of sex selection) Act 1994 – (PCPNDT Act) – Under this Act, registration of sex determination laboratories and ultrasound machines has been made mandatory. Following are banned under the Act -
  1. Advertisement for providing services of sex selection or sex determination;
  2. Non-registration of clinics of pre-conception or pre-natal examination techniques and non display of certificate of registration at prominent place in the clinic;
  3. Sex determination of unborn child;
  4. Compelling a pregnant woman for sex determination;
  5. Assisting in or providing services of sex determination;
  6. Giving information the sex of unborn child by doctor to the pregnant woman or other person;
  7. Non maintenance of records under PCPNDT Act by registered clinics.
2. Indian Penal Code –
  1. Section 312 – Whoever voluntarily causes a woman with child to miscarry, shall, if such miscarriage be not caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the woman, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both, and, if the woman be quick with child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
  2. Section 313 - whoever commits the offence defined in the last preceding section without the consent of the woman, whether the woman is quick with child or not, shall be punished with 1[ imprisonment for life] or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
  3. Section 314 - whoever, with intent to cause the miscarriage of woman with child, does any act which causes the death of such woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
  4. Section 315 - Whoever before the birth of any child does any act with the intention of thereby preventing that child from being born alive or causing it to die after its birth, and does by such prevent that child from being born alive, or causes it to die after its birth, shall, if such act be not caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the mother, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both.
  5. Section 316 - whoever does any act under such circumstances, that if he thereby caused death he would be guilty of culpable homicide, and does by such act cause the death of a quick unborn child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
  6. Section 317 - Whoever being the father or mother of a child under the age of twelve years, having the care of such child, shall expose or leave such child in any place with the intention of wholly abandoning such child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years; or with fine, or with both.
  7. Section 318 - whoever, by secretly burying or otherwise disposing of the death body of a child whether such child die before or during its birth, intentionally conceals or endeavours to conceal the birth of such child, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redress) Act 2013 – This Act is applicable in institutions where there are more than 10 employees. This Act contains all the guidelines of in the Vishakha judgment e.g. powers of civil court to compliant committees for obtaining evidence. If the employer does not implement the provisions of the Act there is a fine of Rs 50,000. This Act also covers persons working in unorganized sector, daily wage earners, domestic servants etc. There are some shortcoming in the Act as well e.g. sexual harassment has not been criminalized in the Act and a criminal complaint is registered only if the sufferer wishes to register a criminal complaint. This may result in pressure on the sufferer by the male boss to withdraw her complaint.
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (1986)
Equal Remuneration Act (1976)
Muslim dissolution of marriage Act, 1939 – This give the right of dissolution of marriage to Muslim women.
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act (1986)
Indian Christian Marriage Act (1872)
Hindu Marriage Act – Equal rights of husband and wife for divorce. Prohibition of polygamy. In the event of divorce, maintenance allowance to the wife according to the status of the husband. Rights of the wife in the self earned property of the husband, etc.
Hindu succession Act – Right of daughter in the property of father.
Family Courts Act, 1984 – For speedy resolutions of family disputes.
Some special Provisions in Indian Penal Code -

Rape – The rule of non disclosure of name of the victim, hearing of the case by a woman judge, recording of the statement of victim by woman police officer and in the presence of her relatives. The completion of hearing within 2 months. Provision of death penalty in certain cases of rape.
Dowry death
Cruelty and harassment

Code of Criminal Procedure - No arrest of women in night. Section 125 – maintenance to wife by husband.
Free legal aid
Minimum wages Act, 1948 - Equal remuneration for men and women.
Other Acts-

Mines Act, 1952 – Prohibition of employment of women in mines and factories between 7 PM and 6 AM.
Bonded labor abolition Act, 1976.
Indian Divorce Act, 1869.
Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act 1956.

National Commission for Women

National Commission for Women was established under the National Commission for Women, Act, 1990 (20 of 1990) in January 1992 for the following objectives:

Monitoring and evaluation of constitutional and legal protection to women;
Make recommendations for better legal measures;
Provide facilities for inquiry into complaints and
Advising the Government on all policy matters affecting women.

First women’s commission was established on 31st January 1992 with Smt. Jayanti Patnaik as Chairperson. Second commission was established in July 1992 with Dr. (Smt.) Mohini Giri as Chairperson. Third commission was established in January 1999 with Smt. Vibha Parthsarthi as chairperson. Fourth commission was established in January 2002 with Dr Purnima Advani as chairperson and the fifth commission was established in February 2005 with Dr. Girija Vyas as chairperson.

The Work of National Commission of women so far –

Made gender profile for empowerment of women.
Received complaints in large number and worked for their quick disposal.
Raised the issue of child marriages.
Organized legal awareness programmes.
Reviewed laws such as Dowry Prohibition Act 1990, PNDT Act 1994, IPC 1860 and National Commission for women Act 1990 for making them more effective.
Organized workshops and seminars for gender equity, female feticide, violence against women and started people’s campaings against such social evils.

Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission

State Women’s Commission was established in Chhattisgarh under Section 3 of Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission Act 1995 for empowerment of women, removal of discrimination against them and protection of women from exploitation and offences.

As per the provisions of the Act there shall be one Chairperson and 6 members. In addition there shall be one Government Officer who shall be the secretary of the Commission. The tenure of the chairperson and members shall be for 3 years. At present Smt. Harshita Pandey is the chairperson and Khileshwari Kiran is member.

The main responsibilities and functions of the Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission are -

Investigation and inquiry into cases of protection given to women under Constitutional and other legal provisions.
To take the cases of protection of women to appropriate authorities.
To give report to the Government on implementation of measures of protection of women.
To prepare plans for social and economic development of women.
To give financial assistance in such court cases of women which have an impact on large groups of women.
Make a detailed study of the economic, educational and health status of women.
Make recommendations to the Government for improvement in the conditions of work places for women, women lock ups, women homes, etc.
To collect information about cases of offence against women such as dowry, rape, kidnapping, molestation, immoral trafficking, medical negligence during labor and sterilization operations etc.
Receive Complaints about:-
1. Offence against women.
2. Not giving minimum wage, basic health facilities, labor facilities etc.
3. Non compliance of policy decisions of the Government regarding women
4. Rehabilitation of abandoned and destitute women
Giving information to women about their rights by workshops, seminars, camps etc.
To take cognizance of harassment of women published in the media.