NCW Raises Concern Over Dropping Funds With State Commissions

National Commission for Women recently wrote to the state governments raising concern over plummeting of funds with state women’s commissions. The National Commission expressed greater urgency due to the increased because of the rising cases of violence against women across various states and the crashing condition of state women’s commissions in these times.

In the letter, NCW instructed the state governments to promote and shield women’s interest in their respective areas. It also noted a, “spurt in media reports relating to cases of violence against women throughout the country. (But) we have noticed that the redressal of the grievances of women is taking a considerable period of time,” reported Indian Express.

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It was actually at the national conference of chairpersons of state women commissions organised in New Delhi, where the state commissions told NCW about their worry over limited resources and funds.

A spurt in media reports relating to cases of violence against women throughout the country. (But) we have noticed that the redressal of the grievances of women is taking a considerable period of time.

NCW found that even big states like Madhya Pradesh only allotted three crore rupees as the annual budget for the state commission for women. MP records the maximum number of cases of crimes against women according to the National Crime Record Bureau. However, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland allocated Rs 60 lakh, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 80,000 respectively for a year.

“(Due to limited resources) the state commissions mandated to look into the diverse issues concerning women find it difficult to take appropriate remedial action,” the NCW letter said.

“Lack of any punitive powers, due to which even domestic violence cases, which come up before the commission, languish in the courts for 5 to 12 years,” is another challenge that state women’s commission face that J&K State Commission for Women chairperson, Nayeema Mehjoor highlighted.

Picture credit- India

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