Constitutional Rights of Women in India

Abstract

In Indian patriarchal society violence against women is a common phenomenon. In spite of women contribution in all spheres of life, they are the most deprived group in Indian society. In fact, women constantly suffer from discrimination in all areas of her life before and after coming on this earth. In recent years there has been an alarming increase of dowry deaths, sexual violence, domestic violence and harassment of women etc. which reveals a large scale societal breakdown. It has been estimated that more than ten million married women undergo from pain and serious injury from their husband and in-laws every year in India. Numerous laws have been enacted by the legislature but the position of women in society remains unchanged.  Thus, in this paper, an elaborate discussion is made to understand the constitutional protection and responses to prevent violence against women.  

                After independence, India has taken the responsibility to make laws for the protection of women. The Constitution makers while drafting the Constitution were sensitive to the problems faced by women and made special provisions for them. The Constitution provided equal rights of men and women and also entrusted the duty upon the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. As a result, in India various central as well as state laws, development policies and Plans and programmes have been formulated for development of women in every sphere.

Objective:

Constitutional protection and responses to prevent violence against women in India.