Worried about the rising cases of violence against children and women in the country, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) re-constituted the committee, which fell apart last year due to internal fissures, to study the status of women across sections of society.
The Central Government had set up the high-level committee in March 2012 to undertake a comprehensive study to assess the status of women in the country since 1989. The committee was expected to evolve appropriate policy interventions based on a contemporary assessment of women’s needs but nothing was done.
Infighting and difference of opinion led to at least five senior members — including the chairperson and member secretary — tendering their
resignations in less than a year.
“We have constituted a new committee which will conduct extensive literary surveys on the status of women in India from 1989 onwards. It will prepare a report on the socio-economic, political and legal status of women in India,” said Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath.
The 14-member panel headed by Dr Pam Rajput has been asked to submit their report to the Ministry within two years.
“There are sufficient rules and legislations to protect the women in our country. The Constitution of India has provided equal status and rights to women, but ground reality is very different,” said Tirath.
“Women from across sections of society face discrimination and violence within and outside their households irrespective of their status. We have to develop Ahimsa (non-violence) messengers at the grassroots and train them, to spread awareness in their communities about the legal provisions, rights and schemes of the Government, which empower the women,” she said.
The Ministry plans to train the panchayat leaders and workers, along with anganwadi and Asha workers as Ahimsa messengers.