In a country where goddesses are worshipped, women get assaulted, raped, abused, and kidnapped every day. Keeping a check on the number of women related cases the government of India provides crucial rights for Indian women. Unfortunately, many women are not aware of these rights. Let’s look at the 12 important rights of Indian women that every woman should be aware of.
Sexual harassment of women at the workplace (prevention prohibition and redressal) Act, 2013: This act ensures women safety at the workplace. This act 6 protect them from sexual harassment at their place of work. This act gives a female the right to file a complaint against any kind of sexual harassment.
Maternity benefit Act, 1961: This act regulates the employment of women and maternity benefits mandated by law. It states that a women employee who has worked in an organisation for at least 80 days during her pregnancy, is entitled to receive maternity benefits which include maternity leaves, nursing breaks, medical allowance etcetera.
The prohibition of the Child Marriage Act, 2006: According to the international research centre for women, almost 47% of the girls are married before the age of 18. Currently, India ranks 13 in the world when it comes to child marriages. Since child marriage has been stitched into the Indian culture and tradition for centuries it has been tough eliminating it. The prohibition of the Child Marriage Act was made effective in 2007. This act benefits child marriage where the water that is underage that is the brighter side 18 years of age of the boy is younger than 21 years. Parents trying to marry underage girls are subject to action under this law. Since the law makes these marriages illegal, it acts as a major deterrent.
Women have the right to register virtual complaints. The lord gives women the provision for filing virtual complaints by email or writing a complaint to the police station from the registered postal address.
Medical termination of pregnancy act, 1971: the act came into effect in 1972 was amended in 1975 and 2002. This act aims to reduce the occurrence of illegal abortion and consequent maternal mortality and morbidity.
National Commission for Women act,1990: the national commission for Women (NWC) represents the rights of women in India and provides a voice for their issues and concerns. The national commission for Women act aims to improve the status of women and works for their economic empowerment.
Women have the right to equal pay. According to the provisions listed under the Equal Remuneration Act, one cannot be discriminated against based on gender when it comes to salary pay or wages.
Women have the right to dignity and decency. In an event that the accused is a woman, any medical examination process on her must be performed in the presence of another woman.
Female sexual assault victims have the right to keep their identity anonymous. To ensure that her privacy is protected, a woman who has been sexually assaulted may record her statement alone before the district magistrate when the case is under trial or in the presence of a Female police officer.
Indecent representation of women (Prevention) Act, 1986: This act prohibits indecent representation of women through advertisement or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner.
The Indian divorce act, 1969 allows the dissolution of marriage on mutual consent, nullity of a marriage, judicial separation and restitution of communal rights.
Women have a right to zero FIR: an FIR that can be filed at any police station irrespective of the location where the incident occurred for a specific jurisdiction it comes under, the zero FIR can later be moved to the police station in whose jurisdiction the case falls under.