Violence against women, declining sex ratio and economic disempowerment of the fairer sex are some key issues which need immediate attention, a committee on the status of women said Monday.
The committee, set up by the union government, presented its preliminary report to Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath Monday.
It recommended for immediate action the promotion of the constitutional promise of a rights-based approach to enhance the status of women, a release from the ministry said.
The report also said there was an urgent need to formulate a national policy and action plan for ending violence against women.
It said the selection and composition of the members of the National Commission for Women (NCW) must be done through an institutionalised and transparent process and legislation for 50 percent reservation for women in all decision-making bodies should be enacted.
The union government had set up the committee to undertake comprehensive studies to understand the status of women since 1989 as well as to evolve appropriate policy interventions based on a contemporary assessment of women's needs.
The committee was formed in 2012 but after the resignation of the chairperson, member secretary and three members, it was reconstituted in May 2013.
It will prepare a report on the socio-economic, political and legal status of women in India which will be submitted to the ministry of women and child development within two years.
