sINTRODUCTION

As per our curriculum requirement today we have visited the EKTA Resource Centre for
Women, Bethel Nagar, Bible Bhavan Street, Ponmeni, Byepass road, Madurai - 625016.We
started visit on 03/01/2020 at 2.00 pm along with our faculty Mrs. Gnana prabha M.Sc. (N), and
Mrs. SaiSreeM.Sc (N) Nursing tutor GR-II College of Nursing, MMC, Madurai. We reached
the clinic at 2.30pm and we met Mrs. Bimla Chandrasekar founder of this organization. She
gave brief explanation about women empowerment.

ORIENTATION:

Ekta was established in 1990 at Madurai as a Resource centre towards creation of a

gender just society. The organization adopts a life cycle approach; works in rural and urban areas
with women, men and adolescents in the educational institutions.

It promotes issue-based campaigns to end violence against women, facilitates networks

for experiential sharing and collective action. It advocates and lobbies for gender sensitive policy
changes to further the interest of women and address gender based violence in particular.

Post Tsunami, it has expanded its work with the rural communities in Chidambaram
Taluk of Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, with a focus on strengthening education of girl
children and livelihood rights of single women.

Goal and Objectives

1.11 The goal of this Policy is to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment
of women. The Policy will be widely disseminated so as to encourage active participation of all
stakeholders for achieving its goals. Specifically, the objectives of this Policy include

(i) Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for full development
of women to enable them to realize their full potential

(ii) The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by women
on equal basis with men in all spheres – political, economic, social, cultural and civil

(iii) Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and
economic life of the nation

(iv)Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and vocational
guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and
public office etc.

(v) Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination against
women
(vi) Changing societal attitudes and community practices by active participation and involvement
of b oth men and women.

(vii) Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process.

(viii) Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child;
and

(ix) Building and strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly women’s
organizations.

Recent Events

 Two days training on sustainable development goals at Training Centre, Kodimangalam

on 29 & 30 May, 2019
 Summer Camp at Training Centre, Kodimangalam in May
 7th Edition of the One Nation Net Ball Cup - 2019 (ONNC) 10 Children participated in
the life skill programme of Ekta are participated in the ONNC at Thyagaraj Stadium,
New Delhi from 28th April to 1st May 2019
 Childline 1098 Child Help Desk 1st Year Celebration on 25th April, 2019 at Madurai
Railway Junction
 Women's day observation in March
 We are happy that one of our team member Ms. Shanthi received the C.S. Voluntary
Sector Worker Award by NFI on 7th March, 2019 at New Delhi.
 Goal Graduation Programme in schools and colleges.
 One Billion Rising Campaign (OBR), February
 Sangat - Feminist Capacity Building training in January

NAMBIKKAI CENTRE (Shelter care for girls in need)

True to its objectives and intentions EKTA swung into action immediately after the occurrence
of Tsunami by holding consultations at the affected districts to assess and grapple with the
situation from a gender perspective with which EKTA is concerned. Based on the early diagnosis
of the situation, EKTA created a shelter home in the year 2007 for girls at Cuddalore district.

The Nambikkai Centre operates with the following three fold objectives:

1. Protecting and promoting childhood of the vulnerable girl children.

2. Facilitating their creative growth.

3. Carrying out the networking and advocacy functions.

Christened as Nambikkai Centre (Nambikkai in Tamil means ‘hope’), This centre apart from
giving shelter to 30 - 35 children in the age group of 6-15, it serves as the drop-in centre for
women and children in need. It provides nutritious food, health care and supplementary
education.

For the benefit of adolescent girls residing in the target area, Nambikkai Centre undertakes a
number of programmes aimed at their rehabilitation. Conducting health awareness camps,
periodical health check up, counseling sessions, creativity camps in summer, and providing study
support are the major activities/programmes undertaken by the Centre.

The Centre has been involved in conducting training programmes on computer skills. This
year 65 adolescent girls trained with a view to enhance their employability. In the larger area of
life skills, the Centre is providing training in the areas of Games, Yoga and Martial Arts. It also
houses a library stocking textbooks and other relevant materials for the benefit of these children.

Going beyond its immediate target group of adolescent girls, the Centre undertakes a range of
activities aimed at the women folk living in the areas. They are:

a) Providing a platform to facilitate experience sharing and discussion of things of critical

importance.

b) Conducting health and legal awareness camps to impart literacy in these areas.

c) Giving basic education and livelihood skills for economic empowerment.

d) Creating awareness about various Government schemes by disseminating this

information.

e) Providing need based counseling and other necessary linkages.

SCOPES:

Capacity Building is perceived by Ekta as more than trainings and an ongoing process through
which individuals, groups, organizations and communities enhance their ability to identify and
meet development challenges and move towards actualizing their rights. The interventions are
around the following thematic areas:

 GENDER AND GOVERNANCE

 GENDER AND HUMAN RIGHTS
 GENDER AND MASCULINITY

Campaign and Networking

Ekta envisages social change as a process of collective action and reflection, and works in
collaboration with similar thinking organisations and individuals.

 ‘One Billion Rising’ is a worldwide campaign on February 14, to create a world free
from violence
  The 16 days campaign (Nov 25 – Dec 10) was launched by Ekta in 1994. The purpose
of this campaign is to create greater awareness on the issue of violence against women
and also to express solidarity to the inter-national campaign on the above issue
 Safety audit is a participatory tool for understanding the elements of public spaces that
contribute towards creating safety or vulnerability. Ekta initiated safety audit in Madurai
with the guidance from Jagori, New Delhi and Sakhi, Kerala since 2013
 ‘Study Circle’ was initiated at Ekta on the 14th January, 1992. The objective was to
create a space for women from different professional backgrounds to come together to
discuss, debate on women’s issues and thereby evolve strategies for collective action
 10-day Feminist Capacity Building Programme for the two countries in Tamil every
year with the support of SANGAT since 2009. The participants come from both Sri
Lanka and Tamil Nadu. The main objective of this programme is to equip women
activists with knowledge on gender and development issues that perpetrate gender
inequalities at the level of household, community, workplace and the state.

We work with the following institutions and networks:

 Childline 1098
 The Naz Foundation (India) Trust - Life Skill and Sports for Adolescent girls
 Girls Not Brides - Advocacy to prevent child marriage
 Forum to Engage Men (FEM)
 International Women Peace Group (IWPG)
 Voluntary Action Network in India (VANI) – Information dissemination
 National Alliance of Women (NAWO) – Networking of Women
 State and National Commission for Women – Promotion of women rights
 Universities and Colleges – Advocacy and Lobbying for Gender Equity
 National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS) – Advocacy and Lobbying

OBR 2019

Since 2013 Ekta is organizing OBR in Madurai, TN in collaboration with Jagori, New Delhi. In
2018, there were five launches and 3 planning meetings for the main public event on 14 th Feb
2019.

In collaboration with 16 NGOs, Advocates, Individuals, 1 University and 7 colleges this year
Ekta organized the One Billion Rising in Madurai. Around 650 members participated.

COUNSELLING

Ekta provides counselling to women and their families irrespective of their class. Based on the
merit of the case, they are helped to access to get referrals to Police and Family Courts. For
litigation process, we get the help of specialized agencies.
PROGRAMME WITH YOUNG ADULTS AND ADOLESCENT

 Students for Change - This was launched in the year 1994. Every year workshops and
seminars are organised for students in different colleges in Madurai.
 Life Skill Programme - Life Skill Education is one of the flagship programmes of Ekta.
In the year 2000 Life Skill programme was initiated in six corporation schools in
Madurai. The students in the corporation schools who primarily come from the urban
poor settlements are victims of poverty, social discrimination and lack access to
development opportunities. This programme aims to provide these students relevant
information and counselling for enhancing their self-esteem and skills to address the
problem they are confronted with.
 Ekta has partnered with NAZ India Trust from 2016 implement life skill through sports
through a programme called Young People's Initiatives (YPI) with children coming from
socially and economically marginalized communities to help them their potential and act
as change makers. Each year around 1200 girls are being covered through this
programme.

BOARD

Ekta has all women Executive Body but the General Body has both female and male members.
The General Body meets annually and the Executive Body meets on a quarterly basis.

S.NO NAME OF THE MEMBER DESIGNATION

1. Mrs. Bimla Chandrasekar Secretary

2. Mrs. Gandhimathi President

3. Mrs. Revathy Vice President

4. Mr. Jesu Rethinam Treasurer

5. Mrs. Manohari Doss GB Member

6. Mr. Gnana Surabi Mani GB Member

7. Mr. Deva Manoharan GB Member

8. Mrs. Valligopal GB Member

9. Ms. Epsi Bai GB Member

10. Mr. Mahaboob Batcha GB Member

11. Ms. Ranjini K. Moorthy GB Member

12. Mr. M. J. Prabhakaran GB Member

13. Dr. Santha GB Member

14. Dr. S. Nagarathinam GB Member

15. Ms. Jeena GB Member

16. Ms. Lydia Rajaselvi GB Member

Staff Team

Ekta’s team consists mostly of women. The team is committed to social change process and
constantly engaged in updating their knowledge and experiences.

S.NO NAME OF THE STAFF DESIGNATION

1. Ms. Bimla Chandrasekar Director

2. Ms. T. Tamil Moni Programme Manager

3. Ms. M. Latha Accountant

4. Ms. K. Suganya System Associate

Goal Team

5. Ms. Jenifer Megala Net ball Coach

6. Ms. M. Gomathi Life Skill Trainer

7. Ms. R. Shanthi Community Sports Coach (CSC)

8. Mr. V. Sangu Sathish Net ball Coach / Field Organizer

9. Ms. Suriya CSC / Field Organizer

10. Ms. Kavitha CSC / Field Organizer

11. Ms. Vinitha Mozhi CSC / Computer Teacher

12. Ms. Vathani CSC / Field Organizer

13. Ms. s. Muthamil CSC / Field Organizer

Nambikkai Team

14. Ms. V. Vaithegi Coordinator

15. Ms. M. Suganya Warden

16. Ms. B. Kavitha Field Organizer

17. Ms. A. Basheerunisha Tailoring Teacher

Publications

 Pathu Pengal Mithikum Cycle

 Anathikkam (Tamil translation of Patriarchy)
 Namathu Udalum Seyalpadukalum
 73 vathu Satathirutha Masoda
 Paraka Thudikirom
 Namathu Vazhvum Varalaru Agum
 Paliyalai Porinthu Kolvom (Tamil translation of understanding Gender)
 CEDAW
 CEDAW- Revised small edition
 Namathu Udal Namathe
 Namathu Urimaiyum Manitha Urimaye
 What is a Girl? What is a Boy?
 Good Touch Bad Touch
 Exploring Masculinity
 Sothanaikalai Savaalkalalki Saathikkum Pengal

NATIONAL POLICY FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (2001)

Policy Prescriptions
Judicial Legal Systems

Legal-judicial system will be made more responsive and gender sensitive to women’s needs,
especially in cases of domestic violence and personal assault. New laws will be enacted and
existing laws reviewed to ensure that justice is quick and the punishment meted out to the
culprits is commensurate with the severity of the offence.

2.2 At the initiative of and with the full participation of all stakeholders including community
and religious leaders, the Policy would aim to encourage changes in personal laws such as those
related to marriage, divorce, maintenance and guardianship so as to eliminate discrimination
against women.

2.3 The evolution of property rights in a patriarchal system has contributed to the subordinate
status of women. The Policy would aim to encourage changes in laws relating to ownership of
property and inheritance by evolving consensus in order to make them gender just.
Decision Making

3.1 Women’s equality in power sharing and active participation in decision making, including
decision making in political process at all levels will be ensured for the achievement of the goals
of empowerment. All measures will be taken to guarantee women equal access to and full
participation in decision making bodies at every level, including the legislative, executive,
judicial, corporate, statutory bodies, as also the advisory Commissions, Committees, Boards,
Trusts etc. Affirmative action such as reservations/quotas, including in higher legislative bodies,
will be considered whenever necessary on a time bound basis. Women–friendly personnel
policies will also be drawn up to encourage women to participate effectively in the
developmental process.

Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in the Development Process

4.1 Policies, programmes and systems will be established to ensure mainstreaming of women’s
perspectives in all developmental processes, as catalysts, participants and recipients. Wherever
there are gaps in policies and programmes, women specific interventions would be undertaken to
bridge these. Coordinating and monitoring mechanisms will also be devised to assess from time
to time the progress of such mainstreaming mechanisms. Women’s issues and concerns as a
result will specially be addressed and reflected in all concerned laws, sectoral policies, plans and
programmes of action.

Economic Empowerment of women

Poverty Eradication

5.1 Since women comprise the majority of the population below the poverty line and are very
often in situations of extreme poverty, given the harsh realities of intra-household and social
discrimination, macro economic policies and poverty eradication programmes will specifically
address the needs and problems of such women. There will be improved implementation of
programmes which are already women oriented with special targets for women. Steps will be
taken for mobilization of poor women and convergence of services, by offering them a range of
economic and social options, along with necessary support measures to enhance their capabilities

Women and Economy

5.3 Women’s perspectives will be included in designing and implementing macro-economic and
social policies by institutionalizing their participation in such processes. Their contribution to
socio-economic development as producers and workers will be recognized in the formal and
informal sectors (including home based workers) and appropriate policies relating to
employment and to her working conditions will be drawn up. Such measures could include:

Reinterpretation and redefinition of conventional concepts of work wherever necessary e.g. in

the Census records, to reflect women’s contribution as producers and workers.

Preparation of satellite and national accounts.

Development of appropriate methodologies for undertaking (i) and (ii) above.

Globalization

Globalization has presented new challenges for the realization of the goal of women’s equality,
the gender impact of which has not been systematically evaluated fully. However, from the
micro-level studies that were commissioned by the Department of Women & Child
Development, it is evident that there is a need for re-framing policies for access to employment
and quality of employment. Benefits of the growing global economy have been unevenly
distributed leading to wider economic disparities, the feminization of poverty, increased gender
inequality through often deteriorating working conditions and unsafe working environment
especially in the informal economy and rural areas. Strategies will be designed to enhance the
capacity of women and empower them to meet the negative social and economic impacts, which
may flow from the globalization process.

Women and Agriculture

5.5 In view of the critical role of women in the agriculture and allied sectors, as producers,
concentrated efforts will be made to ensure that benefits of training, extension and various
programmes will reach them in proportion to their numbers. The programmes for training
women in soil conservation, social forestry, dairy development and other occupations allied to
agriculture like horticulture, livestock including small animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries etc.
will be expanded to benefit women workers in the agriculture sector.

Women and Industry

5.6 The important role played by women in electronics, information technology and food
processing and agro industry and textiles has been crucial to the development of these sectors.
They would be given comprehensive support in terms of labour legislation, social security and
other support services to participate in various industrial sectors.

5.7 Women at present cannot work in night shift in factories even if they wish to. Suitable
measures will be taken to enable women to work on the night shift in factories. This will be
accompanied with support services for security, transportation etc.

Support Services

5.8 The provision of support services for women, like child care facilities, including crèches at
work places and educational institutions, homes for the aged and the disabled will be expanded
and improved to create an enabling environment and to ensure their full cooperation in social,
political and economic life. Women-friendly personnel policies will also be drawn up to
encourage women to participate effectively in the developmental process.
Social Empowerment of Women
Education

6.1 Equal access to education for women and girls will be ensured. Special measures will be
taken to eliminate discrimination, universalize education, eradicate illiteracy, create a gender-
sensitive educational system, increase enrolment and retention rates of girls and improve the
quality of education to facilitate life-long learning as well as development of
occupation/vocation/technical skills by women. Reducing the gender gap in secondary and
higher education would be a focus area. Sectoral time targets in existing policies will be
achieved, with a special focus on girls and women, particularly those belonging to weaker
sections including the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes/Minorities.
Gender sensitive curricula would be developed at all levels of educational system in order to
address sex stereotyping as one of the causes of gender discrimination.

Health

6.2 A holistic approach to women’s health which includes both nutrition and health services will
be adopted and special attention will be given to the needs of women and the girl at all stages of
the life cycle. The reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality, which are sensitive
indicators of human development, is a priority concern. This policy reiterates the national
demographic goals for Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) set out in
the National Population Policy 2000. Women should have access to comprehensive, affordable
and quality health care. Measures will be adopted that take into account the reproductive rights
of women to enable them to exercise informed choices, their vulnerability to sexual and health
problems together with endemic, infectious and communicable diseases such as malaria, TB, and
water borne diseases as well as hypertension and cardio-pulmonary diseases. The social,
developmental and health consequences of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
will be tackled from a gender perspective.

6.3 To effectively meet problems of infant and maternal mortality, and early marriage the
availability of good and accurate data at micro level on deaths, birth and marriages is required.
Strict implementation of registration of births and deaths would be ensured and registration of
marriages would be made compulsory.

6.4 In accordance with the commitment of the National Population Policy (2000) to population
stabilization, this Policy recognizes the critical need of men and women to have access to safe,
effective and affordable methods of family planning of their choice and the need to suitably
address the issues of early marriages and spacing of children. Interventions such as spread of
education, compulsory registration of marriage and special programmes like BSY should impact
on delaying the age of marriage so that by 2010 child marriages are eliminated.

6.5 Women’s traditional knowledge about health care and nutrition will be recognized through
proper documentation and its use will be encouraged. The use of Indian and alternative systems
of medicine will be enhanced within the framework of overall health infrastructure available for
women.
Nutrition

6.6 In view of the high risk of malnutrition and disease that women face at all the three critical
stages viz., infancy and childhood, adolescent and reproductive phase, focussed attention would
be paid to meeting the nutritional needs of women at all stages of the life cycle. This is also
important in view of the critical link between the health of adolescent girls, pregnant and
lactating women with the health of infant and young children. Special efforts will be made to
tackle the problem of macro and micro nutrient deficiencies especially amongst pregnant and
lactating women as it leads to various diseases and disabilities.

6.7 Intra-household discrimination in nutritional matters vis-à-vis girls and women will be
sought to be ended through appropriate strategies. Widespread use of nutrition education would
be made to address the issues of intra-household imbalances in nutrition and the special needs of
pregnant and lactating women. Women’s participation will also be ensured in the planning,
superintendence and delivery of the system.

Drinking Water and Sanitation

6.8 Special attention will be given to the needs of women in the provision of safe drinking water,
sewage disposal, toilet facilities and sanitation within accessible reach of households, especially
in rural areas and urban slums. Women’s participation will be ensured in the planning, delivery
and maintenance of such services.

Housing and Shelter

6.9 Women’s perspectives will be included in housing policies, planning of housing colonies and
provision of shelter both in rural and urban areas. Special attention will be given for providing
adequate and safe housing and accommodation for women including single women, heads of
households, working women, students, apprentices and trainees.

Environment

6.10 Women will be involved and their perspectives reflected in the policies and programmes for
environment, conservation and restoration. Considering the impact of environmental factors on
their livelihoods, women’s participation will be ensured in the conservation of the environment
and control of environmental degradation. The vast majority of rural women still depend on the
locally available non-commercial sources of energy such as animal dung, crop waste and fuel
wood. In order to ensure the efficient use of these energy resources in an environmental friendly
manner, the Policy will aim at promoting the programmes of non-conventional energy resources.
Women will be involved in spreading the use of solar energy, biogas, smokeless chulahs and
other rural application so as to have a visible impact of these measures in influencing eco system
and in changing the life styles of rural women.
Science and Technology

6.11 Programmes will be strengthened to bring about a greater involvement of women in science
and technology. These will include measures to motivate girls to take up science and technology
for higher education and also ensure that development projects with scientific and technical
inputs involve women fully. Efforts to develop a scientific temper and awareness will also be
stepped up. Special measures would be taken for their training in areas where they have special
skills like communication and information technology. Efforts to develop appropriate
technologies suited to women’s needs as well as to reduce their drudgery will be given a special
focus too.

Women in Difficult Circumstances

6.12 In recognition of the diversity of women’s situations and in acknowledgement of the needs
of specially disadvantaged groups, measures and programmes will be undertaken to provide
them with special assistance. These groups include women in extreme poverty, destitute women,
women in conflict situations, women affected by natural calamities, women in less developed
regions, the disabled widows, elderly women, single women in difficult circumstances, women
heading households, those displaced from employment, migrants, women who are victims of
marital violence, deserted women and prostitutes etc.

Violence against women

7.1 All forms of violence against women, physical and mental, whether at domestic or societal
levels, including those arising from customs, traditions or accepted practices shall be dealt with
effectively with a view to eliminate its incidence. Institutions and mechanisms/schemes for
assistance will be created and strengthened for prevention of such violence , including sexual
harassment at work place and customs like dowry; for the rehabilitation of the victims of
violence and for taking effective action against the perpetrators of such violence. A special
emphasis will also be laid on programmes and measures to deal with trafficking in women and
girls.

Rights of the Girl Child

8.1 All forms of discrimination against the girl child and violation of her rights shall be
eliminated by undertaking strong measures both preventive and punitive within and outside the
family. These would relate specifically to strict enforcement of laws against prenatal sex
selection and the practices of female foeticide, female infanticide, child marriage, child abuse
and child prostitution etc. Removal of discrimination in the treatment of the girl child within the
family and outside and projection of a positive image of the girl child will be actively fostered.
There will be special emphasis on the needs of the girl child and earmarking of substantial
investments in the areas relating to food and nutrition, health and education, and in vocational
education. In implementing programmes for eliminating child labour, there will be a special
focus on girl children.
Mass Media

9.1 Media will be used to portray images consistent with human dignity of girls and women. The
Policy will specifically strive to remove demeaning, degrading and negative conventional
stereotypical images of women and violence against women. Private sector partners and media
networks will be involved at all levels to ensure equal access for women particularly in the area
of information and communication technologies. The media would be encouraged to develop
codes of conduct, professional guidelines and other self regulatory mechanisms to remove
gender stereotypes and promote balanced portrayals of women and men.

Legislation

13.1 The existing legislative structure will be reviewed and additional legislative measures taken
by identified departments to implement the Policy. This will also involve a review of all existing
laws including personal, customary and tribal laws, subordinate legislation, related rules as well
as executive and administrative regulations to eliminate all gender discriminatory references. The
process will be planned over a time period 2000-2003. The specific measures required would be
evolved through a consultation process involving civil society, National Commission for Women
and Department of Women and Child Development. In appropriate cases the consultation
process would be widened to include other stakeholders too.

13.2 Effective implementation of legislation would be promoted by involving civil society and
community. Appropriate changes in legislation will be undertaken, if necessary.

13.3 In addition, following other specific measures will be taken to implement the legislation
effectively.

(a) Strict enforcement of all relevant legal provisions and speedy redressal of grievances will be
ensured, with a special focus on violence and gender related atrocities.

(b) Measures to prevent and punish sexual harassment at the place of work, protection for
women workers in the organized/ unorganized sector and strict enforcement of relevant laws
such as Equal Remuneration Act and Minimum Wages Act will be undertaken,

(c) Crimes against women, their incidence, prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution
will be regularly reviewed at all Crime Review fora and Conferences at the Central, State and
District levels. Recognised, local, voluntary organizations will be authorized to lodge Complaints
and facilitate registration, investigations and legal proceedings related to violence and atrocities
against girls and women.

(d) Women’s Cells in Police Stations, Encourage Women Police Stations Family Courts, Mahila
Courts, Counselling Centers, Legal Aid Centers and Nyaya Panchayats will be strengthened and
expanded to eliminate violence and atrocities against women.
(e) Widespread dissemination of information on all aspects of legal rights, human rights and
other entitlements of women, through specially designed legal literacy programmes and rights
information programmes will be done.

Gender Sensitization

14.1 Training of personnel of executive, legislative and judicial wings of the State, with a special
focus on policy and programme framers, implementation and development agencies, law
enforcement machinery and the judiciary, as well as non-governmental organizations will be
undertaken. Other measures will include:

(a) Promoting societal awareness to gender issues and women’s human rights.

(b) Review of curriculum and educational materials to include gender education and human
rights issues

(c) Removal of all references derogatory to the dignity of women from all public documents and
legal instruments.

(d) Use of different forms of mass media to communicate social messages relating to women’s
equality and empowerment.

Panchayati Raj Institutions

15.1 The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the Indian Constitution have served as a
breakthrough towards ensuring equal access and increased participation in political power
structure for women. The PRIs will play a central role in the process of enhancing women’s
participation in public life. The PRIs and the local self Governments will be actively involved in
the implementation and execution of the National Policy for Women at the grassroots level.

Partnership with the voluntary sector organizations

16.1 The involvement of voluntary organizations, associations, federations, trade unions, non-
governmental organizations, women’s organizations, as well as institutions dealing with
education, training and research will be ensured in the formulation, implementation, monitoring
and review of all policies and programmes affecting women. Towards this end, they will be
provided with appropriate support related to resources and capacity building and facilitated to
participate actively in the process of the empowerment of women.

International Cooperation

17.1 The Policy will aim at implementation of international obligations/commitments in all

sectors on empowerment of women such as the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), International
Conference on Population and Development (ICPD+5) and other such instruments. International,
regional and sub-regional cooperation towards the empowerment of women will continue to be
encouraged through sharing of experiences, exchange of ideas and technology, networking with
institutions and organizations and through bilateral and multi-lateral partnerships.

CONCLUSION:

Through the visit I have learnt many things about women empowerment and rights of the women
and women’s act. We have experience and learned about new things. I would like to show my
sincere gratitude to our principal Mrs.Rajamani,M.Sc(N),M.Sc,MA,P.hD(N) and our madam
Mrs.L.Shanthiderma, M.Sc (N), MA, M.Sc, Reader in Nursing. Mrs. S.Gnana Prabha, M.Sc (N),
Mrs.Surosemani, M.Sc (N). Nursing tutor grade II, for providing this opportunity.