When it comes to women, security is typically conceived in terms of physical safety and security and not beyond. However, in a New India, the government has gone beyond the physicality to address women’s issues and taken a more holistic view of things.Now the government has sought to foster women empowerment in a comprehensive programme that deals with five components of security: health security of the mother and child, social security, financial security, security of the future through educational and financial programmes through growing up years, and last but not the least, the physical safety of women.
Securing Health of the Mother and Child
Through a slew of programmes, the scheme aims at complete health of mother and child throughpre, during and post-pregnancy stages by ensuring safe pregnancythroughtimely vaccination of mother and child backed by adequate nutritional support even extending benefits such as sufficient number of maternity leaves for working women.
Social Security & Empowerment
Again, through a host of programmes such as building of toilets in schools and public spaces, givingpriority in housing, ensuring smokeless kitchens through free gas cylinders, changing of passport rules in their favour, and the legislative initiative on the regressive triple talaq, the government has made sure that the women empowerment no more remains a mere slogan.
Financial Security & Empowerment
Recognising the financial need of the New India’s woman, this government has ensured institutional credit to encourage entrepreneurship among women, financially securing future of girl children, accessing banking and financial institutions while encouraging rise of SHGs in rural areas andensuring higher take-home salaries for working women.
Securing Future of Girl Child
By way of a series of landmark initiatives, the government has attempted to changepeople’s mindsets encouraging a culture where the birth of a daughter is a matter of pride and girl child’s education becomes a priority supported through scholarships while making her future financially secure through opening up of bank accounts in her name.
Women Safety
Recognising the gravity of women safety today, the government has sought to introduce tough legislations against child rape and trafficking while enabling them to file complaints on several platforms including online along with a phone-based application for instant security alerts – all backed by a dedicated fund towards the cause of their safety.
Thus, through the above measures, the government has expanded the idea of women’s security to a more comprehensive security paradigm, where they feel safe, secure and free to pursue their dreams.
