In order to move towards a gender just society that treats women equally, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in collaboration with Ministry of Education initiated Gender Champions as responsible leaders who will facilitate an enabling environment within their schools/colleges/academic institutions where girls are treated with dignity and respect. Gender Champions can be both boys and girls above 16 years of age enrolled in educational institutions. They are intended to strengthen the potential of young girls and boys to advocate for gender equality and monitor progress towards gender justice.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) uploads advisory on UGC website twice in a year to the Vice Chancellors of all the Universities/Institutions with the request to implement “Guidelines of Gender Champions in Educational Institutions” in their Universities/Institutions and also in the affiliated colleges. Advisory uploaded is available on the UGC website www.ugc.ac.in.

The Head of the Institution is authorized for selection of the Gender Champions.

Government of India has given utmost priority to improve gender sensitivity among youth, reducing disparity between men and women in various sectors such as health, education, socio-economic aspects, etc. Some major initiatives taken by Government of India for removing the gender gap in all aspect are as follows:

• • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ensures the protection, survival and education of the girl child.
  • Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims to empower girls in the age group 11-18 and to improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training
  • Working Women Hostel ensures the safety and security for working women.
  • Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is an overarching programme for improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes. SSA supports the States and UTs in implementation of Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
  • The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed syllabus and textbooks across the subjects to promote gender sensitization in the school curriculum. NCERT has also developed training material for teacher educators on Gender Equality and Empowerment and conducts research and sensitization programs on gender issues on regular basis.
  • School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat is an initiative to strengthen the preventive and promotive aspects through health promotion activities. A module on ‘Gender Equality’ has been included under the same to increase awareness and address concerns on the subject.

This information was given by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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AS

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