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Context: International Women’s Day 2023 was observed on March 8 under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

About International Women's day

• The idea for an International Women's day arose around the end of the 20th century out of a long-standing movement for women to participate equally in society.
• The first International Women's Day was observed on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. That day, more than one million women and men showed their support by participating in public events.
• Over time, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration.
• It was expanded by the United Nations in 1975 with the International Women's Year.
• In 1977, the United Nations adopted a resolution designating March 8 as International Women's Day.

Steps taken by the Indian Government to ensure gender equality

• The Union Government is implementing several schemes/programs to ensure welfare, rehabilitation, empowerment, education and generating employment opportunities for women.
• SwadharGreh Scheme aims to provide shelter, food, clothing, counselling, training, clinical and legal, and rehabilitation in difficult circumstances; homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism or being forced into prostitution, etc.
• A Home for widows has been set up in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh to provide a safe place to stay, health services, nutritious food, and legal and counselling services.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, to address the declining Child Sex Ratio.
• PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Providing Cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at girls in the age group 11-18, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training
• Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme to promote community participation through the involvement of Student Volunteers for the empowerment of rural women
• National Creche Scheme to provide daycare facilities to children of the age group of 6 months to 6 years of working women who are employed.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income-generating activities at concessional terms.
• Ujjawala is a Comprehensive Scheme for the prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
• Working Women Hostels for ensuring safe accommodation for women working away from their place of residence.
• One-Stop Centre (OSC) and Women Helpline (WH) are being implemented to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/ case management, psychosocial counselling and temporary support services to women affected by violence.
• Gender Budgeting Scheme is being implemented as a tool for mainstreaming gender perspective at various stages of planning, budgeting, implementation, impact assessment and revisiting of policy/programme objectives and allocations.
• Panic Button on Mobile Phones.
• Emergency Response Support System Set up under Nirbhaya Fund.
• Mahila Police Volunteers, to report the incidences of violence against women.
• Inclusion of Acid Attack as a disability.
• Training for Women Heads of Panchayats.
• Extending Maternity Leave duration From 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, Providing micro-credit to Poor women through NGOs, SHGs.
• Mahila e-Haat, online digital marketing Platform for women.
• New Passport Rules, Submission of the father's name is not mandatory and Does not need to submit her/his marriage/divorce Certificates.
• Dowry Prohibition Act, of 1961, Penalizes Giving and taking.
• SABLA Scheme, Provides life Skills and Supplementary nutrition to out-of-school girls.
• Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box).
• The national database on Sexual offenders includes the name, addresses, photographs and fingerprint details of those Convicted in Sexual assault Cases.

Must Read: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/womens-participation-in-the-workforce

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/international-womens-day-2023-stem-gap-8484412/

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