New Draft National Policy To Address Taboos Against Single Women

Several measures such as legislation and economic reform have been recommended among others.

In an effort to recognise and treat single women as independent entities, the government has released its draft national policy on women. Several measures such as legislation and economic reform among others have been suggested in it, according to The Times of India.

This has happened for the first time since 2001, under Maneka Gandhi. It’s likely to address concerns surrounding taboos against and social ostracisation of single women.

According to a 2011 Census Data, single women form 21 percent of India’s population and are close to 73 million in number. These include unmarried, divorced and widowed women.

In 2009, single women outnumbered married women for the first time in the US and a Senior Women and Child Development Ministry (WCD) official said India was headed the same way in the next ten years.

A 40 percent increase in the number of single women has been noted between 2001 and 2011 in India. The ministry official said government policy should prepare for this trend by empowering women through skill enhancement and economic incentives.

The policy is likely to be made public on Tuesday. It is also likely to address issues such as universal health benefits for women.

It will act as a roadmap over the next 15-20 years for dealing with women’s issues, ranging from discrimination against women to the expectations of the new emerging aspirational woman, The policy will look into the entire continuum. It will be placed for public consultation with all stakeholders including NGOs, civil societies among others.

Statement by Women and Child Development Ministry

Single women face a host of problems in society. WCD minister Maneka Gandhi’s office receives many complaints from single women such as finding it difficult to rent a flat, getting passports or getting their children placed in good schools.