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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Single women quota on plan panel table -Ananya Sengupta

Single women quota on plan panel table -Ananya Sengupta

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published Published on Sep 24, 2012   modified Modified on Sep 24, 2012
-The Telegraph

The Planning Commission has proposed a separate quota for single women in central schemes instead of clubbing them under the larger “family” category as is done now.

If the move is cleared, even women who have never married will be included under the head “single”, along with widows and divorcees.

“Not much progress could be made in this direction (towards having a separate category). This can be attributed to two factors. One is the lack of adequate data and information on single women. The second is that the issues of single women cannot be addressed within other development programmes,” the commission has said in a report that dwells on ways to empower women.

The number of single women is 39.8 million, according to the 2002 Census. But neither the states nor the Centre has any specific schemes or budgetary allocations for such women, who are often ill-treated by their families.

“Single women do not find mention in any policy, scheme or programme now. Given that more and more women are living alone and some even choosing to stay single, it is imperative for the government to not just include them in present schemes but to also reserve certain categories for them. It will be a great move and may even encourage young women to make it on their own,” said Sunita Chaubey, a MNC executive in Delhi who is 40 and single.

The plan paper has recommended that the Centre look into issues like “proof” of separation, so that pension, health benefits, school support for children, housing benefits and other government entitlements can be extended to single women in an easier way.

The proposals are part of the approach paper to the 12th Plan (2012-17). These were recently discussed at a meeting of the full Planning Commission and will be placed before the National Development Council next month.

According to a recent survey carried out by a women’s group in Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, over half of the 386 single-women respondents were below 45 and only 7.3 per cent over 60. But despite being relatively young, less than half the women were literate and around 15.5 per cent lived alone.

In January this year, the National Forum for Single Women’s Rights wrote to the ministry of women and child development saying single women should be recognised as independent units in households and be given separate ration cards.

The plan panel seems to have taken note. It has recommended separate quotas under Indira Awaas Yojna and Rajiv Awaas Yojna for such women, along with access to employment and special job cards under rural job scheme NREGA.

“Separate entrepreneurship and leadership development schemes for these women need to be promoted along with preference in granting credit on flexible repayment terms and at lower rates of interest,” the panel said.

Women and child development minister Krishna Tirath welcomed the move to treat single women as a separate group. “We would be glad to be partners in the effort. It will go a long way in helping them.” 

The Telegraph, 24 September, 2012, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120924/jsp/nation/story_16012098.jsp#.UF_vDWe_u9s


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