Maharashtra Govt Unveils Comprehensive Women’s Policy on International Women’s Day

On the occasion of International Women’s Day (8^th March), the Women and Child Development Ministry, Government of Maharashtra, has announced a new policy for women.

As per further information from Devendra Fadnavis’ X handle “On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Maharashtra state’s new women’s policy has been announced. I sincerely wish all the women of the state. Along with equal opportunities for women, priority in employment, various facilities for working women during pregnancy have been taken in it. It will also be monitored at various stages so that the process of overall women empowerment becomes more dynamic. It was thoroughly discussed in the cabinet meeting held during the Nagpur session and it was decided to announce it on Women’s Day. I also congratulate Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare for this.”

As per further information from the Government Decision about the new women’s policy accessed by Pune Pulse,

To implement the equal rights granted to all citizens by the Constitution of India, to provide necessary opportunities and facilities to women and girls in the state and to achieve their social, economic and other development, health, nutrition, diet and health, education and skills, prevention of gender-based violence, gender equality, equality in employment, enhancing livelihood tools such as entrepreneurship and skill development, increasing gender inclusive infrastructure (transportation, shelter and sanitation facilities), gender sensitive governance and political participation, gender sensitive natural resource management, climate change adaptation and disaster management, as well as other important areas were under the consideration of the government while creating an inclusive policy for the empowerment of women.

·         Maharashtra State’s “Fourth Women’s Policy – 2024” is being announced by Government Decision along with a specific and enumerative format for women’s empowerment as well as an index to measure the progress of implementation.

·         While preparing the said policy, an attempt has been made to ensure the important areas and prepare a plan for their implementation. The objectives in the Action Plan for these key areas are enumerative. The salient features of this strategy are not only the action plan but also the creation of institutional arrangements to monitor the progress of the implementation of the strategy.

·         For the implementation of the activities mentioned in the Women’s Policy for the empowerment and development of women, it will be necessary to approve the necessary authorities as well as the planning and finance department by the relevant ministerial departments and provide funds.

·         As mentioned in the 4th Women’s Policy Action Plan, the policy should be implemented through the concerned ministerial departments in a timely and systematic manner with detailed action, roles, responsibilities and coordination index.

·         Accordingly, various activities/schemes under the Women’s Policy will need to obtain separate approval through the concerned administrative department in the prevailing manner as well as obtaining funds for the same in the prevailing manner.

·         Functions of the State Level Special Task Force:- Designing the State Level Convergent Action Plan on Women Policy, supporting implementation at all levels from State to Gram Panchayat level, continuous monitoring and evaluation of the Action Plan, taking corrective action where necessary, to make recommendations to the High Power Committee to improve the policy and effectively implement the action plan prepared for equality towards women and empowerment of women in the state, collecting suggestions from various parties for the achievement of the set goals.

·         Functions of District Level Implementation Steering Committee:- Establishing a Gender Equality Resource Center for Women Empowerment through which information collection, dissemination, undertaking research, conducting surveys, conducting training and awareness programs, liaising with various Women’s Study Centres, other research and educational institutions, strengthening of institutions at district levels, to guide the women self-help groups and local self help bodies and their respective departments, to organize capacity building programs for women, to collaborate with women’s self-help groups and their federations at village panchayat/municipality/metropolitan level for equality towards women and empowerment of women and to create a strong network of various institutions, streamlining the implementation of all social and economic development programmes, raising additional resources wherever necessary through corporate social responsibility (CSR) of international organisations, charities and industrial sector companies and other governmental and non-governmental mechanisms.

https://twitter.com/Dev_Fadnavis/status/1766070701046284694?s=20

“Fourth Women Policy – 2024” of Maharashtra State is available on the website of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra www.maharashtra.gov.in and its reference number is 202403071848424030.