extensive work for the preparation of the due diligence guidelines for the matrimonial websites
      and prepared a concept paper detailing extent of the problem, existing safeguards, existing legal
      remedies, etc., which has been circulated to stakeholders concerned.
      NRI Matrimonial Disputes
            Due to increase in Indian Diaspora and consequent overseas marriages, women whether
      residing in India or abroad, are facing issues related to desertion, domestic violence, exparte
      divorce and custody of children, etc. As the issues involve inter-country jurisdiction, women
      engaged in such cases face legal hurdles due to lack of information regarding procedures when
      the other party is residing abroad. To spread information MWCD has prepared Standard
      Operating Procedures (SoPs) for women involved in NRI matrimonial disputes. These SoPs
      narrate the step wise correct legal recourse to be undertaken by women to facilitate speedy access
      to justice. These are also intended to serve as an effective reference manual for court and police
      officials across the country who are investigating such disputes or representing such women’s
      interest in courts.
      Gender Budgeting Initiatives
            Gender Budgeting (GB) is a powerful tool for achieving gender mainstreaming so as to
      ensure that benefits of development reach women as much as men. It is not an accounting
      exercise alone but an ongoing process of keeping a gender perspective at various steps of budget
      planning, allocation, implementation, impact/outcome assessment, review and audit. To
      institutionalize such budgeting in the country, the setting up of Gender Budgeting Cells (GBCs)
      in all ministries/departments was mandated by the Ministry of Finance in 2007. The MWCD as
      the nodal agency for gender budgeting is undertaking several initiatives for taking it forward at
      the national and state levels. 57 central ministries and departments have set up GBCs which are
      expected to serve as a focal point for coordinating gender budgeting initiatives, both intra and
      inter-ministerial. 21 states and union territories have designated Gender Budgeting nodal centres.
      Gender Champions
            The initiative of Gender Champions is being implemented through educational institutions
      to sensitize young students and create awareness on laws, legislations, legal rights and life skills
      education. The Gender Champion guidelines developed by MWCD are being operationalized in
      collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development. A Training Module for
      Gender Champions has been developed for adoption by educational institutes.
      Mandatory Mention of Widows’ Name on Death Certificates
            To ensure that a widow is facilitated to get all her entitlements after the death of her
      husband, WCD Ministry is working with the office of Registrar General of India as well as the
      state governments to ensure that the name of the widow is compulsorily mentioned in the death
      certificate of her husband.
      Shelter Home for Widows
            It is the largest ever such facility being established or funded by the government, the Home,
      which will have a capacity to house 1000 women, is being constructed on 1.424 hectare of land
      at an estimated cost of ₹ 57 crore (including cost of the land) at Vrindavan. The design of the
      Home has been prepared in consultation with Help Age India and is old age friendly.