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Unit 10: Women's Empowerment

• Swadhar is a new scheme launched by the Department during the year 2001-02 in the Central Notes
sector for the benefit of women in difficult circumstances, like destitute widows deserted by
their families in religious places like Vrindavan. Kashi. etc; women prisoners released from
jail and are without family support; women survivors of natural disaster who have been
rendered homeless and are without any social and economic support; trafficked women/
girls rescued or runaway from brothels or other places or women/girls who are victims of
sexual crimes and disowned by family or those who do not want to go back to respective
families for various reasons; women victims of terrorist violence who are without any family
support and without any economic means for survival; mentally disordered, women who
are without any support of family or relatives, etc.
• The National Commission for Women was constituted as an autonomous statutory body on
31 January, 1992 in pursuance of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to protect
and promote the interest and safeguard the right of women. The main task of the Commission
is to study and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and legal safeguards provided
for women, to review the existing legislations and suggest amendments, wherever necessary.
• The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), a non-statutory ministerial wing of the Ministry of
Food was transferred to the Department of Women and Child Development on 1 April, 1993
in pursuance of the National Nutrition Policy which was adopted by the Government in
1993 under the aegis of this Department.
• The Department of Pension and Pensioner’s Welfare is the nodal agency of the Government
of India for formulation of a general policy on pension and other retirement benefits, as also
for redressal of grievances on retirement benefits. A number of steps have been taken in the
last few years for streamlining the pension administration system.

10.5 Key–Words

1. Seclusion : Purdah (hidden from other people).
2. Meher : Dower Derogatory remark: Have low opinion for others.

10.6 Review Questions

1. Write a note on the status of women.
2. Discuss the women and employment.
3. What do you mean by women’s empowerment? Discuss.
4. What is the perspective of human development? Discuss.

Answers: Self–Assessment
1. 1954 2. 1961 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (d)
10.7 Further Readings

1. Sharma, K.L., 2010 : Perspectives on Social Stratification, Rawat Publication.
2. Sharma, K.L., 2010 : Social Stratification & Mobility, Rawat Publication.
3. Hasnain, Nadeem, 2011 : Indian Society and Culture Continuity and Change,
Jawahar Publishers and Distributors.

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