National Commission for Women

Activities

The objective of the NCW is to represent the rights of women in India and to provide a voice for their issues and concerns. The subjects of the commission's campaigns have included dowry, politics, religion, equal representation for women in jobs, and the exploitation of women for labour. The NCW has also discussed police abuses against women.

The commission publishes a monthly newsletter, Rashtra Mahila ("Nation's Women"), in both Hindi and English.

Controversies

Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code

In December 2006 and January 2007, the NCW found itself at the center of a minor controversy over its insistence that Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code not be changed to make adulterous wives equally prosecutable by their husbands.

The NCW has demanded that women should not be punished for adultery, as a woman is "the victim and not an offender" in such cases. They have also advocated the amendment of Section 198 of the CrPC to allow women to file complaints against unfaithful husbands and prosecute them for their promiscuous behaviour. This was in response to "loopholes" in the Indian Penal Code that allowed men to file adultery charges against other men who have engaged in illicit relations but did not allow women to file charges against their husbands.

The Commission has also worked to guarantee women security in unconventional relationships.

Mangalore pub attack controversy

Main article: 2009 Mangalore pub attack

The NCW came under sharp criticism for their response to the attack by forty male members of the Hindu right-wing Sri Ram Sena on eight women in a bar in Mangalore in late January 2009. Video from the attack shows the women were punched, pulled by their hair, and thrown out of the pub.

NCW member Nirmala Venkatesh was sent to assess the situation, and said in an interview that the pub did not have adequate security and that the women should have protected themselves. Venkatesh said, "If the girls feel they were not doing anything wrong why are they afraid to come forward and give a statement?" On 6 February, the NCW said they decided not to accept Venkatesh's report but would not be sending a new team to Mangalore. On 27 February, the Prime Minister's Office approved the removal of Nirmala Venkatesh on disciplinary grounds.

Guwahati molestation controversy

Main article: 2012 Guwahati molestation case

The NCW came under fire again after the molestation of a 17-year-old girl by a gang of men outside a pub in Guwahati on 9 July 2012. NCW member Alka Lamba was accused of leaking the name of the minor victim to the media, and was subsequently removed from the fact-finding committee, though she remains a member of the commission. The following week, NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma made comments suggesting that women "be careful how you dress", which invited criticism that she was guilty of victim blaming. The controversy led activists to call for a restructuring of the commission.

Badaun rape and murder controversy

In 2021, the NCW was once again criticized for engaging in victim blaming following the gang rape and murder of a woman in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. A two-member delegation from the NCW was sent to the site of the incident to meet with the victim's family and prepare a fact-finding report. NCW member Chandramukhi Devi, who was part of the delegation, stated to the press that part of the blame for the incident lay with the victim, as she had chosen to visit the temple late in the evening. Devi stated, "A woman should not go out at odd hours under the influence of somebody. I think if she had not gone out in the evening, or had some child along with her, this could have been prevented." The comments attracted wide criticism on social media, as well as from celebrities. Following public criticism, Devi withdrew her remarks.

LGBTQ members

The NCW has been criticized for limited action in matters involving LGBTQ individuals, particularly lesbian and queer women. Despite the decriminalization of homosexuality and the striking down of Section 377, LGBTQ members, mostly lesbians, have faced threats to life, social ostracism, and in some cases, forced marriages.{{cite web|url= https://www.the-independent.com/asia/india/india-conversion-therapy-lesbian-married-police-b1815632.html|title= Lesbian woman married against her will in India given police protection over 'conversion therapy' threats|date= 11 March 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/wireStory/hundreds-join-pride-march-india-gay-sex-illegal-51095191 |archive-date=November 12, 2017}} While legal protections exist for transgender women, similar protections have not consistently been extended to lesbian and queer adult women. As a result, some lesbian couples have sought protection from the judiciary due to threats from family members, and in some cases, have been subjected to conversion therapy, as law enforcement authorities and NCW members have reportedly been slow to act on complaints filed by queer couples.{{cite news | url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-news-bombay-hc-orders-police-to-provide-protection-to-same-sex-couple

Inaction against Political leaders

The NCW has faced criticism for inaction against political leaders for comments against women, particularly on serious matters like rape. Despite complaints, no formal action is taken, especially during election periods. In March 2010, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav reportedly made several controversial comments regarding the Women's Reservation Bill.{{cite web|url= https://indianexpress.com/article/india/latest-news/mulayam-draws-flak-for-his-sexist-remark-on-women/|title= Mulayam draws flak for his 'sexist' remark on women|date= 24 March 2010}}

At an election rally during the 2014 elections, Yadav stated that "Boys are boys, they make mistakes, why hand them for rape."{{cite news|url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mulayam-singh-yadav-backs-rapists-for-votes/articleshow/33579716.cms?from=mdr|title= Mulayam Singh Yadav backs rapists for votes|newspaper= The Economic Times|date= 11 April 2014}} On 19 August 2015, Yadav remarked that gang-rapes are impractical and that victims in such cases tend to lie, for which he was summoned by the Judicial Magistrate of Mahoba district court in Uttar Pradesh. His remarks were widely criticized, and despite complaints to the Election Commission and the NCW, no formal action was taken; he was subsequently elected from the constituency of Mainpuri in the 2014 elections.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26984281 Boys Make Mistakes: Mulayam Defends Rape|date= 10 April 2014}}

Chairwomen

State Level Women Commission

Following is the list of state level women commissions

References

References

1. "NCW :: About NCW". National Commission for Women.
2. Act No. 20 of 1990 of Govt. of India
3. (19 May 2006). "India Together: A gallery of failures – 19 May 2006".
4. "National Commission for Women :: Publications".
5. (26 December 2006). "NCW rejects proposal to punish women for adultery". The Hindu.
6. "One World.net".
7. Prakash, Satya. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930044555/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1880193,0008.htm "What constitutes adultery?]" (archived). ''Hindustan Times''. 25 December 2006.
8. "Mangalore: Attack on Pub now a National Concern!".
9. Roche, Florine. (2009-01-30). "Mangalore Pub Attack – National Commission for Women Recommends Punishment Under Article 307".
10. (2009-02-06). "NCW rejects report, blames security lapse for pub attacks".
11. "Guwahati molestation case: Chief Minister's office accidentally names victim, then retracts".
12. (18 June 2012). "Guwahati molestation: NCW chief Mamta Sharma advises women to dress 'carefully'".
13. "Guwahati molestation: Activists demand NCW restructure".
14. (2021-01-07). "NCW Member's Shocker: Badaun Gangrape-Murder Victim Shouldn't Have Gone Out in Evening".
15. (2021-01-07). "Incident could have been avoided had woman not gone out in evening: NCW member on UP gangrape".
16. (2021-01-07). "Taapsee Pannu, Urmila Matondkar, Pooja Bhatt slam NCW member's victim-blaming comments about Budaun gang-rape".
17. (2021-01-07). "Budaun Gangrape: NCW Member Blames Victim For Going Out In Evening, Irks Controversy".
18. (7 January 2021). "NCW member shames Budaun gangrape victim for going out alone in evening, withdraws statement later".
19. (31 March 2023). "Transgender Person Becoming Woman After Surgery Can Seek Relief Under Domestic Violence Act".
20. (8 June 2021). "'Cure therapy' ban to training for police: Madras HC reaches out to LGBTQ".
21. "Activists , leaders slam Mulayam Singh for saying 'gang rape is impractical'". The Times of India.
22. Ali, Mohammad. "UP court summons Mulayam Singh over rape remark". The Hindu.
23. (3 August 2011). "Mamta Sharma is NCW chief". The Hindu.
24. "Rekha Sharma Is New National Commission for Women Chairperson". NDTV.com.
25. (2024-10-19). "Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar takes over as 9th chairperson of National Commission for Women". The Times of India.
26. "List of State Women Commissions - National Commission for Women". National Commission for Women.