India @75 Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is a 75 weeks long celebration which was launched by Prime Minister on 12th March 2021.  As part of this Mahotsav, under the DeendayalAntyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) being implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, all the states have conducted virtual sessions for sharing of best practices and experiences in the implementation of Gender interventions by Social Action Committee members of the Village Organizations and Cluster Level Federations under DAY-NRLMfrom 22nd to 28th March 2021.The rural women shared many inspiring experiences where they, with the support of their community institutions, could help women overcome gender related issues and access their rights and entitlements. They also talked about the institutional mechanisms put in place to help victims facing gender related issues.

 Thirty States/UTs have conducted virtual sessions and a total of 86,539 participants attended this event in all the states.Besides the Village and Cluster level Social Action Committee (SAC) members, the Community Resource Persons, staff from the state, district and block mission management units also participated. The following were the broad issues discussed in different states during virtual sessions:

1. Adult Women Literacy initiatives
2. Prevention of Early Marriage
3. Access to rights & entitlements
   • Convergence with government schemes like- Swachch Bharat Mission, Kanya Sumangala yojana, Pradhan Mantri jeevan jyoti and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Suraksha Bima Yojana
4. Gender Based Violence-Campaign for justice for family of dowry death victims
5. Anti-Alcoholism action
6. Retention of children in schools especially girl child
7. Women’s health and safety
8. Separate toilets in schools for girls and boys
9. Monitoring mid-day meals
10. Sexual harassment of girlsat work place and domestic violence cases
11. Gaps in institutional delivery,
12. Wage disparity and substance abuse
13. Awareness raising on family planning,
14. Financial support to needy families,
15. COVID-19 response
16. Mobilizing and educating adolescents on life skills,
17. Providing livelihoods to womenwho are in distress,
18. Helping child rape survivors
19. Women Livelihood promotion
20. Awareness on Women Laws
21. Awareness activities for the sensitive issues like female feticides

APS/MG                                     ********