Social
Assessment Study for Karnataka Health Systems Development
Project
Page
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National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001), covers
goals and objectives, policy prescriptions, economic empowerment
of women, social empowerment of women (education, health
and nutrition). National Population Policy (2000) prescribes
various operational strategies for enhancement of mother
and child health including women empowerment and convergence
services. National Health Policy - 2002 under the policy
prescriptions has given importance to increased access of
women to basic health care. It also recognizes the need
to review the staffing norms of the public health administration
to meet the specific requirements of women in a more comprehensive
manner.
An
action plan has been formulated in 2001 for elimination
of child labour in Karnataka. The Child Marriage Restraint
Act (1976) stipulates that the marriage of girl is 18 years
and that of boy 21 years.
The
National Population Policy (2000) in the operational strategies
has focused on ensuring access to information, counseling
and services including reproductive health services that
are affordable and accessible. The strategy has also to
be planned and implemented to provide integrated interventions
in pockets with unmet needs in the urban slums, remote rural
areas, and border districts and among the tribal populations.
Finally developing a health package for adolescents is recommended.
National
health policy (2000), has recommended 1) to sensitise, train
and equip rural and urban health centres and hospitals towards
providing geriatric health care; 2) encourage NGOs and voluntary
organizations to formulate and strengthen a series of formal
and informal avenues that make the elderly, economically
self-reliant; 3) Tax benefits could be explored as an encouragement
for children to look after their aged parents.
National Policy on Older Persons (2001) seeks to assure
older persons that their concerns are national concerns
and that they will not live unprotected, ignored or marginalized.
The goal of the national policy is the well being of the
older persons.