National Campaign Launched Against Gender-Based Discrimination

The recent launch of the “Nai Chetna-Pahal Badlav Ki” Campaign by the Ministry of Urban Development has thrown the spotlight on urgent matters of gender-based discrimination. The campaign, also launched in Kerala under the Kudumbashree Mission, seeks to empower women to recognize and prevent violence while also raising their awareness about their rights. This article provides detailed insights into this unprecedented drive against gender-based discrimination.

Understanding the Nai Chetna-Pahal Badlav Ki Campaign

The Nai Chetna-Pahal Badlav Ki Campaign is a month-long initiative aiming to equip women with the ability to understand and prevent violence. Activities in this campaign revolve around the theme of ‘Gender equality and gender-based violence.’ The unique feature of this innovative campaign is its annual focus on specific gender issues, with this year’s emphasis placed on gender-based violence.

The implementing agencies are all states, working together with Civil Society Organisations (CSO) partners. Execution lies at all levels, from statewide to district and block, with community institutions and their extended communities actively participating.

This campaign aims to unite all departments and stakeholders, creating a concentrated effort to identify, acknowledge, and address violence issues.

Kudumbashree Mission: An Overview

Kudumbashree Mission is a program implemented by the State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM) of the Government of Kerala, targeted at poverty eradication and women empowerment. In Malayalam, ‘Kudumbashree’ translates to ‘Prosperity of the Family’, symbolizing both the mission and its associated community network.

National Rural Livelihoods Mission Explained

Commonly known as “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)”, the National Rural Livelihoods Mission is a centrally sponsored program. Launched in June 2011 by the Ministry of Rural Development, the mission came into being after restructuring “The Swarnjayanti Gram SwarozgarYojana (SGSY)” upon the Prof. Radhakrishna Committee’s recommendation.

The purpose of this initiative is to reduce poverty by enabling poor households access to gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. This would thereby lead to improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis.

Causes of Gender Based Violence

Gender-Based Violence stems from a variety of social, political, and cultural factors. These entail discriminatory laws, norms, and practices, gender stereotypes that justify violence against women, and breakdown of family structures. Judicial barriers such as lack of access to justice, inadequate legal advice, and a discriminatory legal framework also contribute to this menace. Certain individual barriers, such as fear of stigma, lack of information about human rights, and threats of further violence, worsen the situation.

Impacts of Violence Against Women

Violence against women has grave impacts on all aspects of their health, including physical, sexual, reproductive, mental, and behavioral health. It hinders their ability to participate actively in social and political relationships. Workplace harassment and domestic violence impact their economic empowerment, while sexual harassment curbs girls’ educational opportunities and achievements.

Eliminating Gender Based Violence: What Can Be Done

Eliminating Gender Based Violence (GBV) requires collective efforts of society, government and individuals. Training healthcare providers to recognize and respond to GBV, using media for making GBV visible and educating the public about legal rights are vital steps towards this. Schools can play a crucial role in preventing GBV by incorporating messages against violence in their regular curriculum and counseling programs. Involving entire communities in recognizing, addressing and preventing GBV has proven to be an effective strategy in eliminating it.