ISLAMABAD Aug. 28 (TNS): Protecting the rights of women, redressing their social and legal grievances and expanding opportunities available to them has been at the heart of the Government of the Punjab’s commitment to the people, under the leadership of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
Punjab government’s pronouncement for bringing necessary amendments in laws related to women and making these laws up-to-date in accordance with the present day requirements, is a manifestation of strong commitment of Chief Minister, Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for empowering women folk.
As a matter of fact, throughout his stint as Chief Minister Punjab, he has always been busy in trying to remove injustice from the society and especially the discriminatory treatment being meted out to women.
The Punjab government has introduced vital improvements in legislations pertaining to Child Marriage Act, Dower Act, Guardian and Ward Act, Marriage Registration Form and Inheritance Laws. A comprehensive policy was formulated for domestic servants. Birth registration fee was done away with for encouraging registration of births of girl child. Women were given mandatory representation in trade unions. It was decided only female contractors will run canteens in girls’ schools and colleges. Provincial commission has already been set up in. The government has also arranged veterinary training for women and technical training for the wives of industrial workers. Topics regarding equality between male and female were also included in the curriculum.
The Chief Minister introduced a comprehensive package of measures – “Punjab Women Empowerment Package 2012” that corroborated the government’s firm commitment to addressing the social and economic rights of women who make up half of the population of Punjab. Much headway has been made in achieving the objectives set forth by him for empowering the women during this period and new vistas of opportunities are being opened for them.
Women Development Department was established on April 4, 2012 under Punjab Women Empowerment Package 2012 (PWEP). This policy document comprises multiple reforms in legal, administrative and institutional spheres while providing new initiatives to safeguard women’s rights and is expected to transform the socio-economic status of women by expanding opportunities available to them.
The newest self-contained administrative unit in the Punjab Secretariat, Women Development Department is mandated to lead the province towards Women Empowerment and Gender Equality following PWEP. It further aimed at expansion of opportunities to improve socio-politico-economic status of women with special focus on rural areas.
Under the Women Package 2012 a comprehensive legislation has been defined to provide assistance to female victims of violence covering all kinds of gender based violence including domestic violence.
Amendment in Poisons Act to discourage acid throwing incidents on women, Amendment in Inheritance Laws and Right to Equal Remuneration were defined. Establishment of Women Crises & Rehabilitation Help Desks, Age Relaxation, Women Friendly Public Amenities, Maternity Leave, Day Care Centers, , Skills development, Women Education, participation in Administration and Politics were all part of the women package.
In 2016 Women package Institutional mechanism provided for prevention of violence against women. Punjab Prevention of Violence against Women Act, 2016 has been promulgated.
Further accomplishment included the equal rights of ownership of spouses were provided in one lakh and ten thousands Plots in Kachi Abadi.
Under Self-employment scheme of women, 4 lakh and 80 thousand women were given interest free loan. Women contractors were appointed in the canteens of nine thousands schools and colleges. 14,740 rural women have been trained by Punjab Skill Development Fund (PSDF). 58 Day Care centers were established to support working women to make workplaces women friendly on a co-finance basis and the number is increasing every year.
More than 11000 goats were provided to the rural women and the distribution is still continued on the basis of merit. Scotties will be distributed very soon to facilitate women in traveling on easy term. 16 women working hostel were established in 12 districts and in future the establishment of working hostels will be in every district of Punjab.
Due to the legislation amendment 45000 women joined 3000 Trade Union and 15 % quota has been assigned for women in government jobs.
The awareness campaign regarding women rights have been started in every district from time to time and Career counseling centers have been established in colleges. In 2012, 1.5 million budgets were allocated to increase the salaries of nurses.
Punjab Bank initiated “Women Entrepreneurship Financial Scheme” under which loans were provided for entrepreneurs’ women.
Family court complex establishment initiated in 10 districts and in 7 district lands have been identified already for the establishment. 680 Help desk have been established so far. 120,000 women were given training through PVTC and Day care workers haven given training through WDD. 14,740 rural women were trained under PSDF and 3070 have given Veterinary training under Livestock and Poultry.
4, 80,218 women were given 2.2 billion loans under Chief Minister Self-employment Scheme. Under Industrial Relations Act, 2010 44,517 women joined 2969 Trade Unions. Under Fair Representation Women Act 2014 197 women have been given the position of voting members in 63 board of governance. Among 57 women colleges 51 are completed so far.
Under 2014 women Package under Punjab Skills Development Fund 14 740 rural women were given various trainings in 10 district including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Chiniot, Khanewal, Vehari and Rahi, Yar Khan and 1000 women got the domestic training to manage their household chores. 240 minorities’ women got free trainings under the scheme. Technical trainings were given to 440 workers’ wives for earning livelihood completed.
Cottage villages for women were established in Labor Colonies as a sale point of handmade clothes, jewelry, handicrafts and exclusive space were given in existing Sunday Bazars and Ramadan Bazars for mini women bazaars where women can set up stalls.
680 Help Desk for females in every police station of Punjab and help line was also set up to get information about any violence happening to women across the province.
Under the Muslim Law ordinance 1961 it was cleared that Nikkah paper should be fully filled and there will be 6 year imprisonment as punishment for forcing early marriage of a girl.
Further the package will include the matter of including the topics related to the law regarding women rights and safety in the syllabus in future. Under the Punjab Educational endowment Fund 53, 515 students have been given scholarships in the year 2014-2016.
