Eleventh Five Year Plan

202 Eleventh Five Year Plannutrition supplementation expenses during the lasttrimester, and spend time with the child after birth.The benefits under the scheme will be conditional tothe mother being registered with the Anganwadi, undergoingregular health check up and immunization.6.85 Ministry of WCD will continue to run its earlierschemes offering support services. Under a revisedWorking Women’s Hostel scheme, financial assistancewill be provided to NGOs, co-operative bodies, andother agencies for construction/renting of buildingsfor hostels to provide safe and affordable accommodationsto working women. The scheme of Swadharhomes for destitute women and women in difficultcircumstance will continue, albeit with modifications.A women’s helpline foundation will also be set up.Under the Short-Stay Home Scheme, suitable accommodationwith basic amenities and services like counselling,legal aid, medical facilities, vocational training,and rehabilitation will be provided for women andgirls who are victims of marital conflict, crime, orhomelessness.6.86 The Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) willcontinue financing NGOs for implementation ofvarious women and child-related schemes. But duringthe Plan, all the existing schemes of the CSWB will bereviewed and restructured in the light of currentrequirements. If necessary, some of them will also bemerged with schemes of WCD.NATIONAL AND STATE MACHINERIESRelief and Rehabilitation of Rape Victims6.87 The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Delhi DomesticWorking Women’s Forum vs Union of India and otherswrit petition (CRL) No. 362/93 had directed theNCW to evolve a ‘scheme so as to wipe out the tears ofunfortunate victims of rape’. It observed that given theDirective principles contained in the Article 38(1) ofthe constitution, it was necessary to set up a CriminalInjuries Compensation Board. Besides the mental anguish,rape victims frequently incur substantial financialloss and in some cases are too traumatized tocontinue in employment. The Court further directedthat compensation for victims shall be awarded bythe Court on conviction of the offender and by theCriminal Injuries Compensation Board irrespective ofwhether or not a conviction has taken place. The Boardshall take into account pain, suffering, and shock aswell as loss of earnings due to pregnancy and the expensesof child birth if this occurs as a result of rape.Accordingly, NCW has drafted a scheme titled ‘Reliefand Rehabilitation of Rape Victims’. This scheme willbe initiated in the Eleventh Plan as ‘Scheme for Reliefand Rehabilitation of Victims of Sexual Assault’. Forthis, the Eleventh Plan will allocate sufficient resourcesto sensitize law enforcement agencies, medical establishments,etc. It will ensure immediate online filingof FIR and recording of the victim’s statement byfemale police officers. It will set up more forensiclabs and DNA testing centres in various districts andprovide special care for minor rape victims. It willalso ensure the safety of rape victims to testify incourts and appoint a specially designated Judge inthe District Court to deal with rape cases.6.88 These schemes along with the measures suggestedabove will ensure that when we enter the Twelfth Plan,women are no longer seen as ‘Victims’, but as agents ofsocio-economic growth and development for thecountry.CHILD RIGHTS6.89 Development of children is at the centre ofthe Eleventh Five Year Plan. The Plan strives tocreate a protective environment, which will ensureevery child’s right to survival, participation, anddevelopment.STATUS OF CHILDREN: A BRIEF OVERVIEWPROGRESS DURING THE TENTH PLAN6.90 Some landmark inter-ministerial and intersectoralsteps towards child development were takenduring the Tenth Plan period. The Sarva SikshaAbhiyan was launched to increase enrolment ofchildren in schools and to ensure that every child hasaccess to quality education. Coverage under the ICDSscheme increased and National Programme forAdolescent Girls was initiated. Schemes like NREGA,TSC, and NRHM were introduced to ensure foodsecurity and access to health services for poor householdsand the children therein.