Nearly a decade and half has passed since the National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001 was formulated. Since then significant strides in global technology and information systems have placed the Indian economy on a trajectory of higher growth impacting the general populace and women, in particular in unique and different ways. The discourse on women’s empowerment has been gradually evolving over the last few decades, wherein paradigm shifts have occurred –from seeing women as mere recipients of welfare benefits to mainstreaming gender concerns and engaging them in the development process of the country. These changes have brought forth fresh opportunities and possibilities for women’s empowerment while at the same time presenting new and emerging challenges which along with persisting socio-economic problems continue to hinder gender equality and holistic empowerment of women.

The policy envisions a society in which, women attain their full potential and are able to participate as equal partners in all spheres of life. It also emphasises the role of an effective framework to enable the process of developing policies, programmes and practices which will ensure equal rights and opportunities for women.

The broad objective of the policy is to create a conducive socio-cultural, economic and political environment to enable women enjoy de jure and de facto fundamental rights and realize their full potential.

Priority Areas

1. Health including food security and nutrition
2. Education
3. Economy
4. Governance and Decision Making
5. Violence Against Women
6. Enabling Environment
7. Environment and Climate Change

Emerging Areas

1. Making cyber space safe place for women
2. Review constitutional provisions to enable equitable and uniform entitlements for women irrespective of caste, community or religion.
3. Protection of surrogates mothers, commissioning mother along with children born
4. Redistribution of gender roles for reducing unpaid care work to maintain balance between work and family roles
5. A comprehensive social protection to address vulnerabilities of single women

Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI invites your inputs on the National Policy for Women 2016 so that a comprehensive policy document may be created which would address all the objectives of this policy.

Download the Draft National Policy for Women 2016 here.

You can share your suggestions till 20th June, 2016.