Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Vijaya K. Rahatkar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), believes that instead of demanding more powers for the commission, it would be better to fully and effectively exercise the powers it already has. She also states that capital punishment for rape would act as a deterrent and that changing societal mindsets is the ultimate key to ensuring the security of women.

Rahatkar was in the city on Thursday to preside over a public hearing under the ‘Rashtriya Mahila Aayog Aapke Dwar’ programme. She discussed various issues concerning women and the functioning of the NCW with the Free Press.

Excerpts:

The MP State Women’s Commission has been non-functional since 2018. Pendency is mounting, and women are being denied justice. Your comment.

I don’t know the details, but I have been told that the government has been unable to re-constitute the State Women’s Commission as a case regarding it is pending in the High Court. I have requested the State Women and Child Development Minister to expedite the disposal of the case. But otherwise, the state government is very sensitive to women's issues.

How does the NCW help women?

In many ways. We help them get justice. We provide legal assistance and arrange counsel for them if they cannot afford to hire one. We can appoint protection officers for them. We can issue directions to the police. Additionally, we can undertake comprehensive research on women-related issues and recommend that the government make new laws or issue orders and circulars for the wellbeing and security of women.

But is all this being done?

Yes, of course. Some things are more visible, while others are less visible. As chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, we made a series of recommendations to the government regarding women farmers, especially widows of farmers who had committed suicide. These women were mostly illiterate. We recommended that they be treated with empathy. The government accepted all our recommendations—100 percent. Another area of work is raising awareness. We hold seminars, meetings, and workshops to make women aware of laws like the POCSO Act, Domestic Violence Act, Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, etc. In Madhya Pradesh, we have taken the initiative to train women in making handcrafted products using Jalkumbhi.

It is often said that the Women’s Commissions lack enough powers. They can only make recommendations.

If we are given more powers, that would be great. But that is a matter for the government to decide. I believe that we should focus on using the powers we already have effectively and fully.

Cases of rape are growing in Madhya Pradesh.

This is unfortunate. There are laws in place. The issue is proper implementation and ensuring quick justice. However, the key is changing societal mindsets. Men need to learn to respect women.

The Madhya Pradesh Government has made a provision for capital punishment for rape. Do such measures work?

Yes. Strict punishment does act as a deterrent.

The UP Commission for Women has recommended that only women tailors should take measurements of women, and only women should train women in gyms, etc. What is your take on this?

I don’t support such recommendations, nor do I oppose them. We need to look into the circumstances in which these recommendations were made.

Most offices don’t have internal complaints committees for women.

We are looking into it.