The National Women’s Policy, with special focus on families headed by single women, is likely to be in place by the third week of July. This was announced by Lalitha Kumaramangalam, chairperson of the National Commissioner for Women.

The draft policy, which will be ready by the end of June, will be submitted to the Government. The final policy is expected to be ready by second or third week of the next month, she told reporters here in Coimbatore.

The policy this time will give special attention to the problems faced by the families headed by single women, without the support of male members, she said. This time, in addition to widows and divorcees, the term ‘single women’ will also include those who were deserted by their husbands, or those whose husbands had gone missing for long.

Ms. Kumaramangalam, who was in Coimbatore to attend a two-day national workshop on challenges faced by families headed by single women, said that women and children of such families were often the victims of poverty, crime and violence. The Commission was also drafting a pan India crèche policy.

On the incidents of crime against women, Lalitha said that reporting of such violence has increased as more and more victims were coming forward to lodge complaints. Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan topped the list of states with most crimes against women, she said.

About the status of 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures, she expressed hope that once BJP got majority in Rajya Sabha, all the pending bills, including this, would be passed.