Madhavi Rajadhyaksha, TNN | Jul 20, 2012, 07.56PM IST
MUMBAI: Recent statements by members of the National Commission for Women (NCW) following the Guwahati molestation case have raised a public outcry for the ouster of offending members as well as scrapping of the commission. While the latter might be an extreme stand to take, the events certainly highlight the need for more scrutiny of the body, its role and effectiveness.
The public ire is probably justified given the series of gaffes. First, a member of the NCW, Alka Lamba who was on the fact-finding committee of the case revealed the name of the molested victim. She was subsequently removed from the committee.
Then came the statement by chairperson Mamta Sharma suggesting that women should dress carefully. A group created on Facebook on Friday and a petition by www.change.org now demands her sacking from the post on the ground that her statements account to blaming the victim rather than condemning the assaulters; a stand that is clearly contrary for a body claiming to protect women's rights.
However, the actions of a few members cannot raise doubts about the existence of the body as a whole. Time and again gender insensitive statements have unfortunately been made by officials across ranks. We cannot after all do away with the police force because one Andhra Pradesh DGP, Dinesh Reddy in another incident had passed insensitive statements regarding attacks on women.
A review of the NCW however, is certainly in order. Experts have time and again recommended changes in the structure of the NCW and it might be a good time to revisit some of the suggestions made. One of the most pressing of which has been revising the process of appointing members to the Commission. With no independent powers, NCW members are appointed by the Centre; this could translate to political appointees getting preference over true calibre. A restructuring of the organisation might be a good start.
It has also been suggested that the body should be wrested with more powers; as its role is largely recommendatory in function. This means its reports are not necessarily binding on government agencies.
Giving the body more teeth and finances might elevate its worth as well as attract more passion-driven involvement of members.
Link: National Commission for Women should be scrutinised, not scrapped
The public ire is probably justified given the series of gaffes. First, a member of the NCW, Alka Lamba who was on the fact-finding committee of the case revealed the name of the molested victim. She was subsequently removed from the committee.
Then came the statement by chairperson Mamta Sharma suggesting that women should dress carefully. A group created on Facebook on Friday and a petition by www.change.org now demands her sacking from the post on the ground that her statements account to blaming the victim rather than condemning the assaulters; a stand that is clearly contrary for a body claiming to protect women's rights.
However, the actions of a few members cannot raise doubts about the existence of the body as a whole. Time and again gender insensitive statements have unfortunately been made by officials across ranks. We cannot after all do away with the police force because one Andhra Pradesh DGP, Dinesh Reddy in another incident had passed insensitive statements regarding attacks on women.
A review of the NCW however, is certainly in order. Experts have time and again recommended changes in the structure of the NCW and it might be a good time to revisit some of the suggestions made. One of the most pressing of which has been revising the process of appointing members to the Commission. With no independent powers, NCW members are appointed by the Centre; this could translate to political appointees getting preference over true calibre. A restructuring of the organisation might be a good start.
It has also been suggested that the body should be wrested with more powers; as its role is largely recommendatory in function. This means its reports are not necessarily binding on government agencies.
Giving the body more teeth and finances might elevate its worth as well as attract more passion-driven involvement of members.
Link: National Commission for Women should be scrutinised, not scrapped
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