A/HRC/36/10 expansion of the coverage of the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme for better nutrition, health and overall development for children under the age of 6. 10. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was the flagship employment programme in India. It was an entitlement-based scheme covering the entire country; women had been the beneficiaries of nearly 60 per cent of the total work days created under the Scheme. Young people were the main beneficiaries of the Skill India Initiative. 11. India had prioritized inclusive and quality education for all by supporting various programmes and policies to universalize educational opportunities, with special emphasis on the girl child. 12. India had been making efforts to evaluate the level of compliance with labour laws through a unified labour and employment web portal, through which employers were required to file returns giving details of their compliance with labour laws. In addition, a law had been enacted requiring employers to provide effective redress to women who had been victims of sexual harassment. 13. In all its policies, India had sought to ensure inclusive development and the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. To that end, the National Policy for Children 2013 had put in place a rights-based policy framework to address children’s needs. 14. India was deeply committed to reinforcing and accelerating efforts to combat human trafficking. In that context, the Government was in advanced consultations with stakeholders on an anti-human trafficking bill to comprehensively address issues relating to human trafficking. 15. In April 2014, the Supreme Court had handed down a landmark judgment directing the Government to declare transgender persons as pertaining to a “third gender” and to include them in the category of an “Other Backward Class”, which would entitle them to affirmative action benefits. The Court had also reinforced the point that they should have all rights under the law. 16. India had made significant progress in addressing the special needs of persons with disabilities through the Accessible India Campaign, and by overhauling the legislative framework on the rights of persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with mental health issues. 17. India had also amended its laws to provide more stringent punishment for atrocities against persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. In addition, a range of policy measures had been adopted to address issues of social exclusion, deprivation and disadvantage that such groups might face. 18. India had remained alert to the problem of global warming and the need to factor in environmental sustainability in its development policies. For instance, the Government had articulated its belief in taking an ethical and people-centred approach to climate change by espousing the principles of climate justice. 19. The delegation also referred to the country’s constitutional framework for the protection of civil liberties and its commitment to safeguarding fundamental rights and fulfilling the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution. 20. The independent judiciary, the autonomous human rights commissions at both the national and State levels, the media and civil society all ensured that the authorities remained respectful of constitutional and human rights norms. 21. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act had been applied only to disturbed areas to deal with exigent circumstances like terrorism. The Supreme Court had upheld the constitutionality of the Act and laid down strict guidelines, including that the armed forces could not use excessive force under the Act. 22. India was committed to ratifying the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In that context, the Government had requested the Law Commission of India to prepare a comprehensive report covering all aspects of criminal law so that the necessary amendments could be made in the Penal Code, 3