The NCW, or National Commission for Women, is a crucial government body in India established for the protection and promotion of women’s rights.
Established: The NCW was set up in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
Function :
Advisory and Recommendatory: It primarily functions as an advisory body, recommending policy changes and improvements to the government on issues concerning women.
Its key areas of focus include:
Reviewing and recommending changes to existing laws to better safeguard women’s rights.
Investigating and addressing grievances regarding violation of women’s rights.
Promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality through awareness campaigns and educational programs.
Composition:
Leadership: Headed by a Chairperson, a woman with significant experience in women’s rights advocacy.
Members: Includes individuals with expertise in law, social work, education, health, and public administration, all related to women’s issues.
Significant Activities:
Complaint Redressal: NCW addresses complaints related to women’s rights violations and helps find solutions.
Research and Advocacy: Conducts research on women’s status and development, advocating for reforms and raising public awareness about women’s rights.
Legal Interventions: NCW can intervene in court cases concerning women’s rights and public interest.
Monitoring and Inspection: It inspects prisons, mental health institutions, and women’s shelters, ensuring proper conditions and recommending improvements.
Limitations:
Recommendations, Not Orders: While it investigates and recommends, the NCW cannot directly enforce its decisions. However, its recommendations carry significant weight.
Time-Bound Jurisdiction: It cannot investigate complaints older than a year.
Coordination Challenges: Sometimes faces coordination issues with State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs).
