The Finance Minister in his Budget Speech of 2000-2001 had announced that the year 2001 will be observed as “Women Empowerment Year.” The announcement was made in the context of an urgent need for improving the access of women to national resources and for ensuring their rightful place in the mainstreaming of economic development.

The objective of the Women’s Empowerment year was to create large scale awareness with the active participation of women themselves. It was proposed by Govt. of India to launch yearlong activities to bring about a change in the environment which will be conducive to develop self confidence and assertiveness among women and children, especially girls. Govt. of India drew up a year long Programme suggesting month wise themes for the celebration of the year 2001 and advised the State Governments to celebrate the year in a befitting manner.

  Accordingly Govt.of Haryana with consultation with concerned Departments also prepared a Calendar of Activities focusing on issues concerning women’s empowerment.

Month wise programmes to be taken up during 
the Women’s Empowerment Year

Two days Workshop on Gender and Law Enforcement held for Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh states on 23-24 February,2001 at Punjab University, Chandigarh by the National Commission for Women on the subject Human Rights and Women.

A Workshop on Dowry Prohibition Act/Rules held on 15-02-2001 at Kurukshetra with the theme Women and Dowry by Women and Child Development Department, Haryana.

State level Mahila Sammelan held on 23^rd March, 2001 at Ambala on the theme Social Empowerment of Women by Women and Child Development Department, Haryana. 40 Anganwadi Workers were given awards @ Rs. 2500/- each in this function.

A Divisional Workshop on Nutrition held at Hisar on 7-8 June,2001 in collaboration with Food and Nutrition Board, Govt of India.

A Workshop on National Nutrition Week had been held in collaboration with Food and Nutrition Board, Govt.of India on 5-9-2001 at Auditorium Hall, Poly Clinic, Sector-22C, Chandigarh.

Nutrition Promotion activities conducted at village level by ICDS functionaries.

A State Level Two day workshop on subject/activities beneficial to women and visit to Water Management Project jointly organized by the Forest Department and Horticulture Department at Uchani (Karnal) and Bhrauli (Panchkula) on 28-29 May,2001 with the theme Economic Empowerment of Women.

  State level function/workshop on enrolment and retention of girl children organized in June,2001 at Gurgoan by the Secondary Education Department with the theme Women and Education.

Women Development Corporation, Haryana has organized Women Empowerment Programmes at District level regarding awareness generation, legal literacy and other women issues in the month of July, 2001.

SWA-SHAKTI Pariyojna functioning under Women Development Corporation has organized a State Level function on the theme of Entrepreneurship in Women on 28.12.2001 at Bhiwani.

State Level function for Awareness Generation for women in difficult circumstances/ women in distress has been held at Yamuna Nagar by Social Justice and Empowerment Department on 24th August,2001.

On the theme Women and Agriculture & Live- Stocks, the Agriculture Department, Haryana has arranged 80 users training courses to bring awareness about bio-gas plants. Animal Husbandry Department, Haryana has framed a programme to impart training to 2280 women in Animal Husbandry practices. Moreover, the Department has organized 3880 extension and infertility camps in which village women folk were trained for the well keeping of their animals.

Police Department, Haryana has organized function/ programme to sensitize Police Personnel to the needs of the women on theme “Women and Police” at Rohtak on 25.11.2001.

The exhibition on the theme “Women and Technology” was jointly organized by the Industrial Training and Vocational Education Department and Technical Education Department, Haryana on 29-12-2001 at Govt. Polytechnic for Women, Ambala City.

Health Department has conducted 47 Workshops at the PHC/ CHC/ district level in the context of Prenatal Diagnostic Technique Act (PNDT Act) to prevent female foeticide.

Haryana State Commission for Women held a Workshop on girl child on 20th August, 2001 at Panipat.

Haryana State Commission for women held meetings at the District and State level to redress the grievances of women victims of atrocities.

Haryana State Commission for Women held Mahila Sammelan at Hisar on dated 30-12-2001 for awareness generation.

Cultural Affairs Department organized workshop on Paper Mache from 22.8.2001 to 27.8.2001 at Bhiwani, workshop on paining for women empowerment from 14.9.2001 to 19.2.2001 at Chandigarh and Sanjhi Kala Competition from 20th September to 25th September, 2001.

Haryana State Social Welfare Advisory Board also organized various activities/ programmes on women empowerment throughout the year.

Bhartiya Gramin Mahila Sangh organized Gramin Mahila Chetna Sammelan at Kurukshetra on 12th September, 2001. Bhartiya Gramin Mahila Sangh also organized Regional Level Gramin Mahila Chetna Sammelan at Gandhi Gram - Ghasera (Gurgaon) on 29th November, 2001.

Voluntary organizations also organized functions during the women empowerment year.

Field offices of Women and Child Development conducted various types of activities at the grass root level.

  For Empowerment of Women, the Haryana Govt decided to prepare a Five Year Perspective Plan for Women, the task of preparing it was assigned to Haryana State Commission for Women through the Task Force constituted by the State Govt.

  Women’s Awareness & Management Academy Rai (Sonepat) imparting training to grass-root level women workers upgraded to the Regional Level Gender Training Institute to provide training on Gender Sensitization.

  The State Govt. approved the creation of 3 more women Police Stations and sanctioned more posts of Lady Police for strengthening the existing Lady Police in the State.

  Food and Supply Department decided that preference would be given to women while allotting depots/ fair price shops in future.

  The State Govt. laid down the policy for pre-mature release cases of women life convicts over the age of 65 years. This release would be one time and only those women prisoners would be given this benefit who attain the age of 65 years during calendar year.

  Some of the State Departments had taken the initiative to impart training on gender sensitization to their employees.

  Mahila Sashaktikaran Awards given to Dr. (Smt.) Meera Gautam, Dr. (Smt.) Sudha Jain and Smt. Shankutala Braj Mohan in view of their contribution in promoting literature and culture.

   Haryana Govt. dedicated its calendar to commemorate the Women’s Empowerment year 2001.

  Sayings of great-men on women published in Haryana Govt. diary to sensitise Govt. machinery to the important place of women in the society.

  The departmental diary and calendar concerning National Programme on Improved Chulha dedicated to Women’s Empowerment year.

   Logo and Slogan of Women’s Empowerment Year was printed on various types of Govt. publications and stationery articles.

  Wide publicity of celebrating Women’s Empowerment year through different media by the Public Relations Department, Haryana.

   An advertisement in news-papers was published on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

   Posters and pamphlets supplied by GOI on Women’s Empowerment Year distributed to spread the message of Sashakt Nari Sashakt Samaj.

   A poster brought out by the State Health Department Haryana on women’s empowerment and Posters published concerning preventing female foeticide.

 As per guidelines of Govt of India, the State Govt. constituted District Level Committees to monitor and take steps for investigations, prosecution and trial relating to violence against women.