COVER HINDI - Ministry of Women and Child Development

drudgery of women, facilitating her health and also income
generating activities. The Information Technology Policy
should also be women oriented imparting skills and
strengthening the knowledge base of girls and women in
the field of computer software and hardware especially in
rural areas.
Review of and effective implementation of
all legislations and laws with a gender
perspective to eliminate all forms of
discrimination and violence against women.
6.47 The laws and legislations are the framework that
provide women her rights as equal citizens of the country..
Thus while there are a plethora of Acts existing for the
protection and socio-economic equality of women, it is only
through their effective implementation that women receive
the intended benefits. A review of the legislations is also
required to bring about conformity in the laws. In this
context, it may be noted that necessary provisions of Indian
Penal Code be brought in harmony with the provisions of
the women related Acts so that there is no dichotomy
between the different legislations. Also for Mainstreaming
and sensitizing gender concerns in various organs such as
police, legislation, judiciary and trade unions,the setting up
of “women” police stations, women’s help desk in every
police station, and increasing the strength of women police
to 30% of the total force is essential.
Gender mainstreaming to be extended to
corporate sector and other civil society
organizations
6.48 An increasing quantum of funds is being invested
by the corporate sector in their businesses as well as in
fulfilling their corporate social responsibility. The
development of the corporate sector as an employer has
grown tremendously in the wake of liberalization and
globalization ,. Therefore, the time has come to apply the
strategy of Gender Budgeting to the private sector. There
is a three fold responsibility that rests with the corporate
sector – one of extending the scope of their employment
opportunities to more and more women, provide them with
level playing fields , equal wages and promotion
opportunities ; two, to support skill building, training
,vocational courses etc; and thirdly, to fulfill their social
obligations towards women employees in terms of
extending maternity benefits, protection from occupational
hazards and sexual harassment, provision of facilities like
crèches, toilets, sanitation and hygiene, allowing formation
of women’s associations, legal protection etc.
6.49 The civil society organizations whether NGOs, or
other community based organizations are partnering
government in formulation and implementation of
government policies and programs.. They have to function
as ‘watch dogs’ ensuring that Gender budgeting and
mainstreaming is actually taking place right at the grass
root levels and helping in implementing gender concerns
effectively.
Estimation of value addition by women in the
unorganized, informal and rural non farm
sector and systemized mechanism in place to
monetize the labour, efforts and output and
include the same in the GDP
6.50 Informal farm work and non farm work where women
are increasingly employed are mostly non monetized and
therefore cannot be captured in the national accounting
system. Despite the sizeable value addition to the national
economy, on account of home based and other non farm
and informal activities, the contribution of women’s work
continues to be invisible. The statistical invisibility of such
unpaid work implies that the economic system is missing
out on a substantial part of the income generated and value
added. The Eleventh Plan should ensure that the National
Income includes these activities in their accounting system
so that it forms a part of the GDP.
Gender Outcome Assessment
6.51 Gender outcome assessment and evaluation is of
utmost importance for ensuring the success of Gender
Budgeting.. The Finance Ministry has made it mandatory
that Gender Outcomes form a part of the Outcome Budget
prepared by every Ministry/ Department as part of the
Budget documents. It is also understood the Gender audit
process is also under way.
Strengthening of GB cells.
6.52 At present, the major task of the Gender budgeting
Cells in the Ministries/ Departments is limited to
Gender Budgeting - Budgeting for Gender Equity 113