N AT I O N A L C O M M I S S I O N F O R
WOMEN
MISSION VISION
To strive towards enabling women to achieve
equality and equal participation in all spheres The Indian Woman, secure in her home and
of life by securing her due rights and outside, fully empowered to access all her
entitlements through suitable policy rights and entitlements, with opportunity to
formulation, legislative measures, effective contribute equally in all walks of life.
enforcement of laws, implementation of
schemes/policies and devising strategies for
solution of specific problems/situations arising
out of discrimination and atrocities against
women.
INTRODUCTION
National Commission For Women was set up in January 1992 under the National Commission for
Women Act, 1990.
The purpose of establishing the commission –
To study and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and legal safeguards available for
the protection of women
To review the existing legislation
To suggest amendments wherever necessary and to safeguard the rights and entitlements of
women.
• This commission was for the first time recommended by Committee on Status of Women in India in 1974
to facilitate the redressal of grievances and to accelerate the socio-economic development of women.
• During 1990, the Central government held consultations with NGOs, social workers and experts, regarding
the structure, functions, powers of the Commission.
• The Commission was constituted on 31st January 1992.
• Rekha Sharma is the Chairperson of National Commission for Women She was the BJP district secretary
]and a Member of the District Consumer & Redressal Forum in the Government of Haryana.
NCW CELLS
Capacity Building Cell
Complaint & Investigation Cell
Legal Cell Women Safety Cell
Policy Monitoring and Research Cell Women Welfare Cell
Non Resident Indians Cell Suo-Motu Cell
RTI Cell
North- East Cell
Psychiatric/Custodial Homes Reform Cell
Public Relations including media management
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMISSION:
• The National Commission for Women Act, 1990 (Act No. 20 of 1990 of Government of India)
constituted the National Commission for Women as a statutory body. The first commission was
constituted on 31st January 1992 with Mrs. Jayanti Patnaik as the Chairperson.
• The Act of 1990 under Section 3 provides for the constitution of the commission. This
section lays down that the commission will consist of one Chairperson, who is committed to the
cause of women, five members from various fields and a member secretary who shall be
an expert in the fields of management, organizational structure, sociological movement
or a, member of the civil service of the Union. All the members of the commission are
nominated by the Central Government.
• Each person holds office for a period of five years or till he attains the age of seventy. At
least one member each of the Commission must belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. In
addition to the abovementioned members of the Commission, the Commission has the power to set
up committees with members from outside the Commission.
Powers of Commission
The Commission while investigating any matter shall have all the powers of a civil
court trying a suit and, in particular in respect of the following matters, namely :-
summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India
and examining him on oath
requiring the discovery and production of any document
receiving evidence on affidavits
requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office
issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents and
any other matter which may be prescribed.
The Mandate of the Commission
Section 10(1) of the Act
Broadly speaking the Commission's mandate can be divided under four heads –
• (a) safeguard of rights of women granted by the constitution and laws,
• (b) study problems faced by women in the current day and make recommendations
to eradicate these problems,
• (c) evaluating the status of Indian women from time to time and
• (d) funding and fighting cases related to women's rights violations.
• Investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided
Functions of the for women under the Constitution and other laws
Commission • Present reports to central government on work done towards these
safeguards
• Make recommendations for effective implementation of such
safeguards to Union or state governments
• Take up cases of violation of law against women to appropriate
authorities
Functions of the Commission
Look into complaints and take suo moto notice of matters relating to
• deprivation of women's rights
• non-implementation of laws enacted to provide protection to women and also to achieve
the objective of equality and development
• Work towards women’s rights
• Mitigating hardships of women and ensure welfare and relief.
Call for special studies or investigations into specific problems or situations arising
out of discrimination and atrocities against women and identify the weakness so as to
recommend strategies for their removal
Investigation
undertake promotional and educational research so as to suggest ways of ensuring due
representation of women in all spheres.
Inspect or cause to inspected a jail , remand home , women's institution or other
Inspection place of custody where women are kept as prisoners or otherwise and take up with
the concerned authorities for remedial action, if found necessary.
WORKING OF THE COMMISSION
The Complaints and Counselling Cell of the Commission processes the complaints received
oral, written or suo moto under Section 10 of the National Commission for Women Act.
The complaints received relate to various categories of crimes against women such as domestic
violence, harassment, dowry, torture, murder, kidnapping /abduction, complaints against NRI
marriages, deprivation of rights, gender discrimination and so on.
The complaints are acted upon in the following manner:
Specific cases of police apathy are sent to the police authorities for investigation and cases are
monitored
Family disputes are resolved or compromises struck through counselling.
Disaggregated data are made available to various state authorities to facilitate action
In sexual harassment complaints, the concerned organizations are urged to expedite cases and the
disposal is monitored.
For serious crimes, the Commission constitutes an Inquiry Committee to provide immediate relief
and justice to the victims of violence and atrocities.
STRATEGIES OF THE COMMISSION
• Generation of legal awareness among women, thus equipping them with the knowledge of their legal
rights and with a capacity to use these rights.
• Assisting women in redressal of their grievances through Pre litigation services.
• Facilitating speedy delivery of justice to women by organizing Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats in
different parts of the country.
• Economic empowerment through building up skills and securing access to gainful
employment
• Political empowerment through awareness, training and mobilization for equitable
representation in all spheres
• Prevention of violence and discrimination against women inside and outside the
home through legal reform
• Review of the existing provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting
women and recommending amendments if there are any inadequacies or short
comings in such legislation's.
राष्ट्रीय महिला आयोग
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
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