Page 43 - NIS - English,16-30 September,2022

Sankalp Yatra of New India Cover Story

Muslim women get 34

33 freedom from triple talaq 26 weeks of
maternity leave

July 2019 Now 26 weeks of maternity
A bill was passed to make it a crime to leave are allowed which earlier
give instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) to was 12 weeks. This decision
protect Muslim women was taken to provide ample

In the year 2017, the Supreme Court, time for taking proper health
.n care of pregnant women and
while giving a verdict in the Shayara babies. It aimed to combat child
Bano case, declared instant triple malnutrition and improving
talaq unconstitutional. The five-judge better maternal health. In
bench of different religions gave its order to ensure proper care
verdict by three-two. The court had and upbringing of children,
asked the government to bring a law the government amended the
in this direction within six months. The The sin of depriving Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 in
crores of mothers and
government got the Muslim Women's sisters of their rights was 2017 to increase the maternity
Right to Marriage Protection Bill passed committed in the name of leave from 12 weeks to 26
by both houses of Parliament. The bill appeasement. I am proud weeks by changing 55 years old
was passed in the Lok Sabha on 25 July that our government has law. With this move, India has
and in the Rajya Sabha on 30 July 2019. got the distinction of giving joined countries like Canada and

Significance- This was a relief for lakhs Muslim women their due.
.n -Narendra Modi, Prime Norway in terms of maternity
of Muslim women. Resulted to decline in Minister leaves.
number of triple talaq cases.

35 BETI BACHAO, BETI PADHAO: PROGRESS EVERYWHERE

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme Its impact
was launched in January 2015 to address
issues such as declining child sex ratio The sex ratio According to the latest
and empower girls and women throughout at birth at the National Family Health
their lives. This scheme, which began with national level Survey, there are 1020
women per 1000 men
the goal of emphasising the importance of has increased
daughters, became public campaign. The to 937 in
words "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" were 2020–2021. Enrollment of girls in
secondary education
inscribed on the backs of the vehicles. It was 918 in increased from 75.51%
405 district received special attention. The 2014-2015. in 2014-2015 to 79.46%
Sukanya Samridhi Yojana was launched to in 2020-2021.
ensure the financial security of daughters,
with 3.03 crore accounts opened. The
interest rate in the scheme is higher than Remarkable improvement in institutional deliveries.
the standard tax-free interest rate. There were 87% of institutional deliveries
in 2014–2015, which increased to 94.8%
in 2020–2021.

New India Samachar September 16-30, 2022 41