Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 23: The Hon’ble Chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW), Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar, today inaugurated the National Consultation on Law relating to Women in Prison in the conference hall of Hotel Lemon Tree. The meeting focused on the need for systemic reforms to improve the condition and rights of women inmates in India. Dr. Archana Mazumdar, Ms. Delina Khongdup, Smt. Mamta Kumari, members of the NCW, DGPs, IGPs, ADGPs from various States, Legal experts, Vice Chancellors, academicians and Senior Officers of A&N Administration attended the National Consultation.
In her opening remarks, the Hon’ble Chairperson, NCW informed that the National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body in January 1992 to review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women to recommend remedial legislative measures; facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
Hon’ble Chairperson stated that this National Consultation is aimed to identify urgent reforms needed to strengthen the rights, welfare, and dignity of women inmates across India. The Commission received a large number of complaints and also acted suo-moto in several cases to provide speedy justice, she added.
The Hon’ble Chairperson further informed that the NCW organizes consultations, constitutes expert committees on economic empowerment of women, conducts workshops/seminars for gender awareness and take up publicity campaign against Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace, violence against women etc. in order to generate awareness in the society against these social evils.
During the National Consultation, Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar highlighted the various challenges faced by women prisoners and emphasized the need for gender-sensitive and humane correctional systems. She noted that women in prison are often victims of structural gender inequality, which continues to affect them during and after their incarceration.
In his address, the DGP, A&N Islands, Shri H.G.S. Dhaliwal, IPS thanked the Hon’ble Chairperson, NCW for visiting the Police Training School, Prothrapur and providing valuable guidance and benchmarks to be followed in future. He said, the Consultation on law relating to women in prison will be fruitful and will lead to some meaningful suggestions and reforms for the women in Prison.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Member Secretary, NCW, Shri Sudeep Jain welcomed the participants for coming all the way from mainland to attend this all- important National Consultation. He also elaborated upon the functioning of the NCW by reviewing constitutional and legal safeguards for women, investigating violations, advising the Government on policy and legislative measures, and promoting gender equality.
Later in the open session of the National Consultation, deliberations were held which was aimed to generate recommendations for a report to be submitted to the Government. The core themes discussed were on improving medical and mental-health support for inmates, addressing the rights of incarcerated mothers and their children, ensuring safe accommodation for transgender inmates, legal aid issues, need for reform, inadequate facilities in prisons viz. poor hygiene, unsanitary conditions, and insufficient health facilities for women. Many intellectuals joined the Consultations through virtual mode.
In her concluding remarks, the Hon’ble Chairperson thanked the participants for putting forward their valuable suggestions during the deliberations. She said, the officials from Govt. Departments and the experts have good experiences in their respective field and their support will help us further to move in the right direction. She urged the participants to send their valuable suggestions in writing to the NCW, so that a final report can be submitted at the earliest.