Women and child welfare

Women and children are among the most vulnerable sections of society. Welfare programs aim to protect their rights, improve health and education, and ensure social and economic security.

1. Introduction

• Women and child welfare refers to policies, programs, and initiatives designed to promote:
• Health, Nutrition, Education, Safety, Employment, Equality, Social protection
• It ensures overall development, empowerment, and protection from exploitation.

2. Objectives of Women and Child Welfare

• Promote gender equality
• Ensure safe childhood free from abuse and exploitation
• Provide health, nutrition, and education support
• Empower women socially, economically, and politically
• Reduce infant mortality and maternal mortality
• Prevent child labour, trafficking, and early marriage
• Strengthen families and communities

3. Issues Faced by Women

Women face multiple challenges such as:

• Gender discrimination
• Domestic violence and abuse
• Dowry-related harassment
• Sexual harassment at workplace
• Low literacy levels
• Limited access to healthcare
• Lower wages and employment opportunities
• Malnutrition and anaemia
• Early marriage and early pregnancy

4. Issues Faced by Children

Children are vulnerable to:

• Malnutrition
• Child labour
• Child trafficking
• Lack of education
• Physical and sexual abuse
• Early marriage
• Poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water
• Child mortality due to preventable diseases

Major Women Welfare Programs in India 

i) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP); A flagship national programme launched in 2015.

Objectives:

• Improve Child Sex Ratio
• Promote girl child education
• Prevent gender discrimination and female foeticide
  It focuses on awareness campaigns and improving access to education and health services for girls.

ii) Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK); A community-level program.

Purpose:

• Strengthen women through skill development, training, digital literacy
• Provide support services at village level through women volunteers and student interns

iii) One Stop Centres (OSC) (also known as Sakhi Centres); Provide immediate help to women facing violence.

Services Provided:

• Medical assistance
• Police support
• Legal aid
• Psychological counselling
• Temporary shelter
• These centres operate 24/7 across districts.

iv) UJJAWALA Scheme; A comprehensive scheme for women victims of trafficking.

Focus Areas:

• Prevention of trafficking
• Rescue of victims
• Rehabilitation and reintegration
• Shelter homes, skill training, counselling

v) Swadhar Greh Scheme; For women who are socially or economically deserted.

Target Groups: Widows, victims of domestic violence, trafficking survivors, women without family support.

Facilities: Shelter, Food, Clothing, Legal and psychological support

vi) Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY); A maternity benefit programme under the National Food Security Act.

Benefits:

• Provides ₹5,000 to pregnant and lactating mothers
• Helps promote safe motherhood practices
• Encourages institutional deliveries

vii) National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW); A holistic approach to women’s empowerment.

Goals:

• Improve women’s education, health, and economic status
• Strengthen women’s rights and safety
• Coordinate and monitor all women-related programmes across ministries

Major Child Welfare Programs in India 

i) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

Launched in 1975 to improve child health and development.
Provides:

• Supplementary nutrition
• Immunization
• Health check-ups
• Referral services
• Preschool education
• Anganwadi support for mothers and children

ii) Mid-Day Meal Scheme

A national school nutrition scheme.
Objectives:

• Provide free, nutritious lunch to school children
• Improve school attendance and enrolment
• Reduce malnutrition and hunger

iii) Child Protection Services (CPS)

Focuses on child safety and rights.
Prevents:

• Child abuse
• Child labour
• Child trafficking
  Includes Childline 1098, a 24-hour emergency helpline.

iv) POSHAN Abhiyaan

National Nutrition Mission.
Goals:

• Reduce stunting
• Reduce underweight children
• Reduce anaemia in children and women
  Focuses on better nutrition awareness and monitoring.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan / Samagra Shiksha; Ensures free and compulsory education for children (6–14 years). Now part of Samagra Shiksha, integrating school education from pre-primary to Class 12.

National Creche Scheme; Provides day-care services for children of working mothers.
Includes: nutrition, early learning, and health care.

Legal Safeguards for Women (Brief Notes)

• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961; Makes the giving, taking, or demanding of dowry illegal.
  Punishment includes fines and imprisonment.
• Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Protects women from: Physical violence. Emotional/mental abuse. Economic abuse. Sexual abuse. Provides protection orders, residence rights, and support services.
• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013; Prevents workplace harassment. Key Feature: Every workplace must have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).
• Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amended 2017); Provides 26 weeks of paid maternity leave. Applies to women in both private and public sectors.
• Equal Remuneration Act, 1976; Ensures equal pay for equal work for men and women.
  Prevents gender discrimination in recruitment and wages.
• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006; Declares marriage illegal if:

• • Girl is below 18 years
  • Boy is below 21 years
    Protects children from exploitation and early pregnancy.

Legal Safeguards for Children 

Juvenile Justice Act, 2015

• Deals with care, protection, rehabilitation, and adoption of children.
• Children in conflict with law (below 18 years) are sent to juvenile homes, not jails.
• Special provisions for child-friendly investigation and trial.

Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

• Prohibits employment of children below 14 years in all occupations.
• Adolescents (14–18 years) banned from hazardous work.
• Provides penalties for employers who violate the rules.

Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009

• Ensures free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 years.
• 25% reservation in private schools for economically weaker sections.
• Focus on quality education and no child detention till Class 8.

POCSO Act, 2012

• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
• Covers: sexual assault, harassment, pornography.
• Child-friendly procedures for reporting and trial.
• Strict punishments for offenders.

Importance of Women and Child Welfare (Brief Notes)

• Builds a healthy and educated society
• Reduces poverty and inequality
• Ensures gender equality and justice
• Lowers maternal and child mortality
• Improves nutrition and health standards
• Protects children from abuse and exploitation
• Promotes national development and social stability

Women and child welfare is essential for a strong, progressive, and equitable nation.

Role of Government, NGOs & Society (Brief Notes)

Government

• Makes welfare schemes, policies, and legal protections
• Implements education, nutrition, health, and safety programs
• Ensures law enforcement against crimes and exploitation

NGOs

• Provide rescue, shelter, counselling, awareness
• Work in adoption services, anti-trafficking, women empowerment
• Bridge the gap between government schemes and communities

Society

• Must eliminate gender discrimination
• Prevent child labour and child marriage
• Support education, health, and safety for women and children

Schools

• Promote awareness, moral values, safety education
• Act as safe spaces for reporting abuse