Men should learn to cook, women martial arts, suggests Sushma Swaraj

New Delhi, April 28: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that the men should learn how to do the household work and women should focus on physical education especially martial arts. The minister suggested that the men should be encouraged to learn home science in college and develop skills to help at home to curb the gender bias in the society.

The union minister made this statement at the group of ministers' meeting to review the national policy for women that is being revised for the first time in 16 years.

During the meet, Swaraj had said that if men help women in the household works, the life of women becomes better.

Swaraj, who heads the GoM, had said that though both men and women are working, the workload on women is far more.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu who was present at the meeting had suggested for reservation for women in educational institutions and added that the women will get better opportunities.

Another minister suggested that women who are undertrials, accused of non-heinous crimes and if found guilty, should be released after they serve one-third of their time in punishment.

Commerce Minister



Nirmala Sitharaman added that the women undertrials should be kept in special homes.

The Women, Child Development ministry headed by Maneka Gandhi will go through the suggestions made by the GoM before taking a final call on policies and schemes for women under the national policy.

It is to remind that the draft policy, for the first had addressed issues related to single women and widows.

Who are the ministers present in GoM?

Though the GoM was formulated in the year 2001, the meeting on national policy was held on Thursday. This GoM consists if 11 ministers that include Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi and others.

What is the National policy for women is all about?

The national policy for women addresses the current and emerging challenges involving women such as issues related to health, education and employment.

A draft national policy for women states, 2016 guides various sectors to issue in more detailed policy that is specific to help women in other fields such as Agriculture, Skill development, protection apart from the main objectives mentioned earlier.