Institutions and Establishments Related to Women in Agriculture

• NRCWA (National Research Centre for Women in Agriculture) was established in 1996 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. (NET 2021)
• CIWA (Central Institute for Women in Agriculture) established in 2015 at Bhubaneswar.
• Gender Knowledge Center is developed by CIWA.
• National Commission for Women was set up on 31 January 1992.
• Chairperson of National Commission for Women is Rekha Sharma.
• First woman DDG of ICAR – Dr. Meena Kumari.
• First woman director of Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture – Hema Pandey.
• At least one woman subject matter specialist is provided in each KVK.
• Women Youth Training Extension Project (WYTEP) was implemented in Karnataka.

Women-Related Days

• Women in Agriculture Day – 4 December.
• International Women’s Day – 8 March.
• Russia declares official national holiday on Women’s Day.

Conferences and Global Events

• First International Conference on Women in Agriculture – 1994, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
• First Global Conference on Women in Agriculture – 13–15 March 2012, New Delhi.
• Second Global Conference on Women in Agriculture – 2015.
• UN Women was established in July 2010.
• International Women’s Development Agency – established in 1985, located in Melbourne, focused on women’s rights and gender equality.
• Gender Mainstreaming concept was first proposed in 1985 at 3rd World Conference on Women, Nairobi, Kenya.

Schemes, Policies, and Programmes

• National Policy on Empowerment of Women – 2001. (NET 2021)
• National Mission on Empowerment of Women – 8 March 2010. (NET 2021)
• Gender Resource Center – established in July 2004.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana – launched on 22 January 2015, from Panipat, Haryana.
• Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls – SABLA Yojana.
• Women Component Plan – adopted in the 9th Five-Year Plan.
• TRYSEM – provided 40% reservation for women.
• DWCRA – targeted women below poverty line.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh – meets the credit needs of poor women.
• Mahila Samriddhi Yojana – promotes savings among rural women.
• India Development Gateway – an initiative for rural empowerment in local languages.

State-Specific Women Programmes

1. Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) – Gujarat (SRF 2021)
2. Annapurna Mahila Mandal – Maharashtra (SRF 2021)
3. Working Women’s Forum – Tamil Nadu (SRF 2021)
4. Kudumbashree – Kerala

Legal Acts Related to Women

• Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill – approved in 2010.
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act – 2005, came into effect 26 October 2006.
• Marriage Women’s Property Act – 1874.
• Dowry Prohibition Act – 1961.
• Family Court Act – 1984.
• Indian Divorce Act – 1969.
• Special Marriage Act – 1955.
• Hindu Marriage Act – 1955.
• Child Marriage Restraint Act – 1921.
• Minimum Wages Act – 1948.
• Equal Remuneration Act – 1976, ensures equal pay and prohibits sex discrimination.

Gender and Constitutional Provisions

• Article 14 – Ensures gender equality.
• Article 15 – Prohibits discrimination on grounds of sex.
• Article 15(3) – Permits state to make special provisions for women and children.
• Article 16 – Ensures equal opportunity in public employment.
• Article 39 – Provides equal means of livelihood to men and women.
• NREGA – mandates 33% women beneficiaries.

🟣 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• MDG-1 – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
• MDG-2 – Achieve universal primary education.
• MDG-3 – Promote gender equality and women empowerment (SRF 2021).
• MDG-4 – Reduce child mortality.
• MDG-5 – Improve maternal health.
• MDG-6 – Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria.
• MDG-7 – Ensure environmental sustainability.
• MDG-8 – Develop global partnerships.

SDGs and Gender: Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Related to gender equality.

Women in Agriculture

• Women’s literacy rate – 5%; Men – 82.1%.
• Women in farming labour – 55–60%.
• Women in global agri workforce – 43%.
• Assets owned by women worldwide – 1/100.
• Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) – Measured using:
  • Production
  • Resources
  • Income
  • Leadership
  • Time

Notable Indian Women and Achievements

• First woman President of India – Pratibha Patil.
• First woman Chief Minister of India – Sucheta Kriplani.
• First Indian woman to get Magsaysay Award – Kiran Bedi.
• First Indian woman to win Booker Prize – Arundhati Roy.
• Annie Besant – First woman President of Indian National Congress.