Institutional Mechanisms

Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women
Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women include institutions of different types— National and State government, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs),—which support the cause of women’s advancement.

National level Organizations

• The Department of Women and Child Development: Set up in 1985 as a part of the Ministry of Human Resources Development is the nodal department in the Government of India to look after advancement of women and children.
click here for details– http://www.wcd.nic.in

• National Commission for Women (NCW) : Set up as a statutory body in January 1992 under the The National Commission for Women Act 1990 No.20 of 1990 of Govt, of India to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women ; recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on al policy matters affecting women.. India has also ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal rights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.
click here for details – http://ncw.nic.in

• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (National Credit Fund for women): Started on 30th March 1993 has as its main objective facilitation of credit support or micro finance to poor women, as an instrument of socioeconomic change and development.
click here for details – http://www.rmk.nic.in

• National Institute of Public Co-operation and Child Development (NIPCCD): An autonomous organization under Department of Women and Child Development. Objectives of the Institute include the development and promotion of voluntary action in social development. It has developed innovative gender training/ sensitization modules. The Institute is the apex body for training of functionaries of the ICDS programs.
click here for details– http://nipccd.nic.in

• Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB): Set up in August 1953. It is an umbrella organisation networking the activities of State Social Welfare Boards and voluntary organisations. It implements a number of schemes including Family Counseling Centres, Short Stay Homes, Rape Crisis Intervention Centres, crèches for children of working mothers, etc. The programmes of the Board include socio-economic programmes for needy/destitute women, vocational training courses for women/awareness generation, family counseling etc.
click here for details – http://www.cswb.gov.in

• Gender focal points (Women’s Cells) : Have been formed in the ministries in the development sector, including Education, Rural Development, Labour, Agriculture.

• The Panchayati Raj Institution and Urban Local Self-Government bodies: Provide a framework for women’s empowerment in political participation and decision making all over the country

• A Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women: Was constituted by the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) in 1997, and reconstituted in 2004, to review the effectiveness of measures taken by the central government for the empowerment of women. This has 30 members, from the Lok Sabha and from the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament).

• The Planning Commission carries out periodical reviews of programmes and policies impacting on women.

• Commissions and Committees are set up from time to time to focus on specific areas. A focal point on the human rights of women has been set up in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
click here for details – http://www.nhrc.nic.in

State Level Organizations

• Kerala State Women's Commission (KWC) - Established in 1996 as a statutory body constituted under Kerala Women's Commission Act 1990 (Act 17 of 1995) with the objective of improving the status of women in Kerala and to enquire into unfair practices against women.
click here for details–http://keralawomenscommission.gov.in

• Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) - Established in 1988 under the Companies Act 1956 with the objective of formulating, promoting and implementing women welfare and development schemes. KSWDC has been selected as State channelising agency for National Corporations such as NSFDC, NSTFDC, RMK, NBCFDC, NMDFC and NHFDC. The Corporation initiates Self Employment Loans, Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, Single Women Benefit Scheme, Working Women's Hostel, Integrated Women Empowerment Programme, Women Resource Centre, Day Care Centres in Public Offices etc., Apparel Training and Design Centre, Geriatric Home Nursing, Medical Transcription, etc. Activities for the years 2006-07 are given in detail in the chapter on Gender and Development.
click here for details–www.kswdc.org

• Kerala State Social Welfare Board is running integrated child development services and supplementary nutrition programme under ICDS programme also provides health, nutrition & education programme for women mainly pregnant and lactating women through Anganwadis.

• Department of Social Welfare is intended to provide Social Security and Social defense services to vulnerable sections of the society.  By providing such services, these poor sections, which would be the worst sufferers and the most neglected, would be enabled to improve their living standard.  Social Welfare Department is the nodal department in implementing various schemes of Government of India in Ministry of Women and Child development.  Apart from this, Social Justice and empowerment schemes of NGOs for the welfare of disabled, destitute, women and children are supported by the Social Welfare Department.
click here for details–http://swd.kerala.gov.in

• Kerala State Human Rights Commission has the power to enquire on a complaint filed by a victim or any interested party in favour of victim regarding the violation of human rights in the particular case at any level. After the enquiry the commission has the power to give recommendations to the government against the culprit even for the prosecution or other relevant proceedings. Commission has an investigation team under an Inspector General of Police (IG).
click here for details–http://www.keralalawsect.org/human_rights.html

• Complaints Committee against Sexual Harassment at Workplace: After the supreme court guideline on Sexual Harassment at Workplace in 1997, complaints committees has been constituted in about 54 workplaces like government departments and universities. Those who are experiencing workplace harassment can contact their respective institutions.

Others

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