India’s political leaders blasted a United Nations report that accused the country of denying social security to women community health workers. In a speech at the General Assembly’s Third Committee—an arena for social and cultural issues—BJP MP Poonamben Maadam called the working‑group’s findings “misleading” and said they unfairly cast doubt on India’s credibility.
The UN panel’s study focused on discrimination against women and girls, highlighting a claim that Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in India receive no social‑security benefits. Maadam countered that the ASHA programme is a cornerstone of India’s rural health system. She explained that ASHAs earn performance‑based pay and also enjoy several government benefits:
* A monthly pension from the Prime Minister’s Pension Scheme after age 60.
* Annual health insurance worth ₹500,000.
* Life‑insurance coverage of ₹200,000 under the Prime Minister’s insurance schemes.
“It’s a mistake for the working group to single out India without a thorough study,” Maadam said. She urged the UN to review its methodology before publishing such claims.
When the panel’s chair, Yale law professor Claudia Flores, responded to criticisms, she largely ignored Maadam’s points and stuck to the report’s conclusions. Later in the session, UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem discussed surrogacy. She noted that while Britain allows altruistic surrogacy, many of its citizens still travel to India as foreign clients. This statement sparked confusion, because India’s Surrogacy (Regulation) Act of 2021 bans commercial surrogacy and limits altruistic surrogacy to married Indian couples under strict conditions.
The debate highlights India’s effort to showcase its support for women workers and to correct misconceptions about its laws and policies. It also underscores how UN reports can influence international perceptions and how countries may push back against allegations that they see as inaccurate or unfair.
Source: ianslive
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