In the backdrop of alarming incidents of social injustice and atrocities against women and girl child in the State with the degree of infliction climaxing to horrific inhumane levels, an urgent need to expedite a robust Women’s Policy in the State becomes prime. Unfortunately, the policy has been caught in warp of slackening and sluggish procedures depriving women centric welfare agencies, Commission and Government departments in Jharkhand of clear-cut guidelines to usher in women’s development and empowerment.
The draft policy of ‘Jharkhand State Policy for Women’, in its present form is headed towards cruising for a bruising. Reports from reliable sources suggest that the State Finance department has raised objections and observed the compiled draft of being profound and unspecific. This jeopardises its prospect of a State Cabinet approval nowhere sooner thus delaying the process of Policy’s notification.
Sources in the Government informed that Finance department noting on drafted Women’s Policy was not very positive. The notings portray the policy as vague and inadequate on parameters like work-plan; budgetary plans and detailed breakdown of spending for earmarked gender specific funds. Even the dimension of commitments and participation of stake-holders are undefined and not apportioned. The data contents of the draft are not updated therefore needs to be revised, they remarked.
The ex-Chairman of JSWC, Hemlata S Mohan said, “Representatives from the State department of Women & Child Development, State Women’s Commission, NGOs, social activists and government officials conscientiously took the enormous task of drafting a policy for women based on the state’s specific geographical, social and cultural characteristics about two-and-a-half years ago. Initially a huge volume of ninety pages was drafted. At our behest significant aspects of women’s health hazards, migratory labourers and impeding cultural practices unique to Jharkhand were introduced in the incipient copy. JSWC goaded the inclusion of policies under CEDAW (Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women), adopted by United Nations General Assembly. Our jurisdiction has been curtailed in various fields concerning women in the policy framework.”
“A sound State women’s policy is desperately needed and should be made a priority issue,” she further said. Once ratified by the State Cabinet, the Women’s Policy will become binding for the State Government to implement its provisions. According to activists it is high time the Government mulls actions in fulfilling their obligations to women by providing a foundation for the advocacy of their rights. Once notified the State Policy for Women will prove milestone in entitling a life of equality and dignity to women in all spheres of life.