To be finalised after new Govt takes over
State-wide deliberations held over the last one year on a progressive policy for women and the girl child in the State culminated on Thursday. A high-level draft policy deliberation body held its meeting on the occasion under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra wherein Women and Child Development (W&CD) Secretary Arti Ahuja presented the draft policy for discussion.
The policy aims at creating an enabling environment for girls and women that promotes equal opportunities, eliminates discrimination and ensures holistic development and empowerment of women and the girl child.
The policy has set visions like enabling girls and women to lead a life of dignity, enjoy health and well-being, have equal opportunities in all spheres of life, participate in social, political and economic spheres, and lead a safe, secure and self-reliant life. The guiding principles of the draft policy are equity, affirmative action, life cycle approach, inclusion, participation and regional and cultural diversity.
Replying to queries of the media after the meeting, Chief Secretary Mohapatra said: "We have made deliberations on various aspects of the policy and input has been taken from cross sections of people and stakeholders. The policy will be finalized after the new Government takes over."
W&CD Secretary Ahuja said that the draft policy has several focus areas like survival, health and nutrition, education, livelihood, women in formal sector, women in informal sector, asset ownership of women, participation in decision making and political representation, safety, security and protection of women, inclusion and empowerment of girls and women with special needs.
The policy directives along with strategies and action points on several focus areas were deliberated. A framework for operationalisation, institutional mechanism, monitoring and review was taken up. The inputs suggested by Secretaries of various departments and experts were taken note of for inclusion in the policy.
Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary PK Mohapatra, Panchayati Raj Secretary Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, Cooperation Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, Water Resources Principal Secretary SC Mohapatra, Employment Training and Technical Education Secretary Dr CS Kumar, NRlM Director Roopa Mishra along with other senior officers and experts participated.
It may be pertinent to mention here that a long course of debate and consultations have been made over the last one year for preparing the draft policy. Around 27 district level consultations have been made in different parts of the State on topics like issues affecting rural and tribal women, employment opportunities and self-employment of women, access to health education, legal service, political and public life, crime against women, security of girl child and women etc.
Around 22 consultations have been made with various departments and around 19 State-level consultations have been made with stakeholders, activists, civil society organizations and policy experts.