NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a detailed advisory to several Union Ministries, state governments and UTs in a step to ameliorate the socio-economic and health conditions of women, especially the marginalised sections, after the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown.
The Ministries include Home, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Social Justice, Labour, and Rural Development.
The advisories include the release of all pregnant women and those with children from prison.
Women prisoners with an existing health condition, including mental illness and disabilities, may be given priority in releasing on bail.
The Commission has recommended increasing the guaranteed man-days of work under MGNREGA from 100 to 200 days.
Expressing concern at the rise in gender-based violence during the lockdown, it batted for a “coordinated and inter-ministerial health system response” to the victims.
Referring to a data shared by the National Commission for Women, it said there had been a 2.5 times increase in cases of domestic violence against women registered between February 27, 2020, and May 31, 2020.
Emphasizing on maternal and reproductive health care, it advised the provision of free contraceptives and other essential materials for safe delivery and safe abortion at public health facilities.
Also, medical abortion drugs and contraceptives should be made available at chemist outlets, it added.