SRINAGAR, May 19 : The National Commission for Women (NCW) has proposed setting up its offices in the Union Territories across the country and is currently awaiting approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, where she is holding a public hearing of complaints, Rahatkar said the commission has recently forwarded the proposal to the ministry for necessary clearance.
“We have sent a proposal to the ministry to open commission offices in the UTs. We are waiting for approval and permission in this regard,” she said.
Responding to questions about whether a separate “state women’s commission” would be established in Jammu and Kashmir, she clarified that under the present administrative structure, such a body is not envisaged.
“Jammu and Kashmir is a UT, and in the present setup there will not be a state commission for women. The National Commission for Women will handle matters here,” she said, adding that while a local commission could be helpful, all Union Territories fall under NCW’s jurisdiction.
Rahatkar further said the commission will continue to conduct public hearings in Jammu and Kashmir to address women’s grievances. She noted that NCW has been in Srinagar for the past four days, hearing 14 cases and also taking up additional walk-in complaints.
“We want to assure the women of Jammu and Kashmir that NCW will continue to work actively in the UT. We will keep coming here to listen to grievances,” she said.
On the Morbi sexual exploitation case in Gujarat, she said the NCW has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter, describing it as serious.
