INTERNATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY

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In News

• International Girl Child Day is observed on 11th October 2022.
• The Day was declared by the United Nations in 2012.
• The objective is to promote more opportunity for girls and increases awareness about gender inequality faced by girls; limited access to education, nutrition, legal rights, and medical care.
  • Promote awareness about discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage.

 

Status of Girl children in India

• According to the recently published National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report;
  • India recorded a total number of 1, 49,404 cases of crimes against children in 2021.
  • 6% of the victims were girls.
  • West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh together account for close to half (47. 1 %) of the total crimes committed against children across the country.
  • Many cases of crimes against children usually go unrecorded, especially in remote areas. Therefore, the real number may be much higher than those reported.
• According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), the prevalence of underage marriages remains high, with 23% of women married before the age of 18. At the same time, the detection of such marriages remains low, with only 785 cases registered under the law in 2020.
  • This raises the question of whether the increase in the minimum age would have any significant impact on reducing child marriages.

 

Concern

• Lack of crime Reporting.
• Slow Criminal Justice System.
• Inadequate Implementation of law.
• Poor Gender Sensitization of law enforcing agencies like Police, Judiciary etc.
• Various Social factors like level of education/illiteracy, Poverty, Social Customs and values, religious beliefs, and the mindset of the Society.
• The lack of infrastructure Such as Safe Spaces for women, Safe transport Systems, and Proper toilets makes it a dangerous place for women and girls.
• Hostile Environment of investigation to victims of Sexual violence.
• Social Conceptions of Shame and victim-blaming - Much Sexual violence happens within a marriage, and marital rape is not a Crime.

Steps taken by the Government

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme to address the declining Child Sex Ratio.
• PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Providing Cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to Pregnant and nursing mothers.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at girls in the age group 11-18, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training
• Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme; to promote community participation through the involvement of Student Volunteers for the empowerment of rural women
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income-generating activities at concessional terms
• Swadhar Greh provides relief and rehabilitation to destitute women and women in distress.
• Ujjawala is a Comprehensive Scheme for the prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
• Working Women Hostels for ensuring safe accommodation for women working away from their place of residence.
• One-Stop Centre (OSC) and Women Helpline (WH) are being implemented to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/ case management, psychosocial counselling and temporary support services to women affected by violence.
• Emergency Response Support System Set up under Nirbhaya Fund.
• Mahila Police Volunteers; to report the incidences of violence against women.
• National Database on Sexual offenders, including name, address, Photograph and fingerprint details of those Convicted in Sexual assault Cases.
• Inclusion of Acid Attack as a disability.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh; Provide micro-credit to Poor women through NGOs, and SHGs.
• SABLA Scheme; Providing life Skills and Supplementary nutrition to out of School girls.

 

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/international-girl-child-day-crimes-against-girls-on-the-rise-in-india-especially-eastern-states-85383

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