Maneka Gandhi

New Delhi, (IANS) : The National Policy for Women, 2016 emphasises on mindset change through advocacy campaigns, multi-sectoral actions, raising awareness and community mobilisation on the ground through programmes and schemes, Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Friday informed the Lok Sabha.

“Gender sensitisation and non-discrimination in the portrayal of women has been envisaged to ensure that women are not represented in a demeaning or stereotypical manner,” she said in reply to a question.

In May this year, the Union Minister unveiled the National Policy for Women, 2016 which enables the government to recognise single women — “divorced, widowed and unmarried women” — as independent entities.

“Several things have changed since the last Policy of 2001, especially women’s attitude towards themselves and their expectations from life. This new draft policy shifts the focus from entitlements to rights and from empowerment to creating an enabling environment,” she added.