Social Policies and Social Legislations

Social Policy

Social policy is an odds of action, followed by government guidelines decided with different departments. It is a blueprint. The concept speaks to bring welfare for society providing certain social, political, economic, educational development for the society. Social Policy, it’s a terminology which helps government’s to implement all its core policy on its different sectors. In order to bring changes, we must do an effective plan for the better improvement of society. So that Social Policy regarding to the social issues must be focused to eradicate social evils, where, people getting social challenges.  This helps to protect, to improve,  to strengthen, and to uplift the people's socio-economic status. Beginning from bottom to top different policies enacted to address people's issues and give a solution through Social Policies.

  In modern terms, social ills like; poverty, ill health, poor housing, insufficient education, and employment must be alleviated, as a result, a human being can meet their needs decently. In every department there should be administrational guidelines, some rules and regulations, etc., so that we could reach into a perfect goal and get welfare state.

Welfare state should provide some rights to the people like; Equality, equal opportunity, need, freedom and rights. Which defines, everyone should be treated equally on grounds of caste, creed, ethnicity. This also says everyone should have equal rights to face risks. Equal opportunity must be given to people regardless, including, basic needs like food, housing and caring. As we know human needs are unlimited. In order to fight against violence people should have ability about rights and freedoms including, political rights like voting and joining in the political parties in democratic way. These are the rights provided by Welfare states, therefore we could get social peace, security, ensure social balancing, minimize social integration and achieve the social democracy goals.

Types of social Policies:

Here is to cover some areas of social policies which are for wellbeing and welfare of the society such as:

a)      Policy for family:- It is one of the crucial policy, under this policy many GOs and NGOs working. To create safe environment for them,there are many schemes related to family’s wellbeing.

b)      Policy for children:- Its plays main role for children’s all round development, providing many more facilities to them.

c)       Policy for women:- Here it speaks about Women’s security in every corner of the society. Schemes should ensures the betterment of the women’s dignity and wroth.

d)      Education Policy:- This is a policy for everyone which, gives equal rights to everyone to strengthen their educational knowledge.

e)      Health Policy:- This policy helps to create a healthy and fit environment for the individuals.

These are some policies which help to identify and find ways for reducing inequalities and access to provide social services.

Social Legislation

Social legislation, the concept denotes, it is a governing body or process of making law. This describes how to design law to improve, protect and  guide the position of minority groups and also to bring change in their life style. Before legislation it simply known as “bill”. Policies becoming legislate into an action and then written as law. The laws embodied to develop socio-economic status which secure from the social stigmas. The purpose of a law is meant to develop a healthy and vibrant society.

The laws and social change

§  Law is an instrument of constrain which helps to wipe out evil customs or damaging behaviour of society.

§  It gives peaceful and profitable coexistence.

§  In static society law can be used as instrument of social change.

§  Law abolishes those customs like; child marriage.

§  It is an instrument of regulating society

The social legislation acts

·         The Hindu Succession Act:1956

             This is an act to amend  and codify the law relating to interstate marriage among hindus and also applying to Sikhs, jains and Buddhists. The act lays down  a uniform system. It’s specified, when a person die without leaving a will his property will be distributed by the perfect law, and this process is called intestate succession.

 

·         The Child Marriage Restrain Amendment Act:1978

           It justifies, a child who if male has not completed 21 years and for girl who has not completed 18 years of age are not eligible to marry each other. Under this act they must follow the rule, otherwise both will be sent to jail. Other side, anyone who is under the age of 18  and involve him/herself in sexual activities then he/she is  considered as minor and according to law  he/she will be punished by governments guidelines.

1.       Punishment for male adult below twenty-one years of age marrying a child.

2.       Punishment for male adult above twenty-one years of age marrying a child.

3.       Punishment for solemnizing a child marriage.

4.       Punishment for parent or guardian concerned in a child marriage.

The Dowry Prohibition Act:1961

              It is under the Ministry of Women and Child development. This is  an act to prohibit taking and giving of dowry. If anyone dismiss the law he she shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be 5 years.

1.       Penalty for giving or taking dowry

2.       Penalty for demanding dowry

3.        Ban on advertisement

4.       Agreement for giving or taking dowry to be void

5.       Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or heirs

 

·         Maternity Benefits Act:1961

             A woman will protect her employment during the period of her maternity and entitles her of a maternity benefit that is full paid absence from work , under this act, a women will get 26 weeks of paid leave.

1.       Employment of, or work by, women prohibited during certain period.

2.       Right to payment of maternity benefit.

3.       Continuance of payment of maternity benefit in certain cases

4.       Notice of claim for maternity benefit and payment thereof

5.       Payment or maternity benefit in case of death of a woman

6.       Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child, or miscarriage.

 

·         The Factories Amendment Act:1976

         The Bill amends the Factories Act, 1948. The Act regulates the safety, health and welfare of factory workers.  The Bill amends provisions related to overtime hours of work.

1.       Power to make rules on various matters

2.       Powers to make rules for exemptions to workers

3.       Overtime hours of work in a quarter

4.       Overtime hours if factory has higher workload

5.       Overtime in public interest

 

·         The Equal Remuneration Act:1976

           Considers, that you are a woman working really hard to earn well, but you find that there is some other person who worked half as hard as you but earned double the amount just because that person is a male. The basic concept underlying, the very controversial subject, Feminism, is “equity”. Equity refers to a treatment of equal with equals and Unequal with unequal’s.  It provides for Equal remuneration to both men and women.

1.       Act to have overriding effect.

2.       Payment of Remuneration at Equal Rates to Men and Women Workers.

3.       Duty of employer is to pay equal remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work of similar nature.

4.       No discrimination to be made while recruiting men and women workers.

5.       Power of appropriate Government to appoint authorities for hearing and deciding claims and complaint

                   A prospering nation always takes care of its citizens by  forming a good social policy and a strong social legislation. A good leader always takes care of its citizens by making social policy handy. India is a perfect example of it. In India various legislation has been made to wipe out the old superstitious activities. Many age old activities have been removed with good social policy which helps to aware the citizens of India. Finally a social policy and a good social legislation required to build a good nation.