NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN

The National Commission for Women was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 ( Act No. 20 of 1990 of Govt.of India ) to :

• review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women ;
• recommend remedial legislative measures ;
• facilitate redressal of grievances and
• advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.

In keeping with its mandate, the Commission initiated various steps to improve the status of women and worked for their economic empowerment during the year under report. The Commission completed its visits to all the States/UTs except Lakshdweep and prepared Gender Profiles to assess the status of women and their empowerment. It received a large number of complaints and acted suo-moto in several cases to provide speedy justice. It took up the issue of child marriage, sponsored legal awareness programmes, Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats and reviewed laws such as Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, PNDT Act 1994, Indian Penal Code 1860 and the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to make them more stringent and effective. It organized workshops/consultations, constituted expert committees on economic empowerment of women, conducted workshops/seminars for gender awareness and took up publicity campaign against female foeticide, violence against women, etc. in order to generate awareness in the society against these social evils.

Breif history

The National Commission for Women was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 ( Act No. 20 of 1990 of Govt.of India) to review the Constitutional and legal safeguards for women; recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

The Committee on the Status of Women in India ( CSWI ) recommended nearly two decades ago, the setting up of a National Commission for women to fulfill the surveillance functions to facilitate redressal of grievances and to accelerate the socio-economic development of women.

• Successive Committees / Commissions / Plans including the National Perspective Plan for Women ( 1988-2000 ) recommended the constitution of an apex body for women.
• During 1990, the central government held consultations with NGOs, social workers and experts, regarding the structure, functions, powers etc.of the Commission proposed to be set up.
• In May 1990, the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha.
• In July 1990, the HRD Ministry organized a National Level Conference to elicit suggestions regarding the Bill. In August 1990 the government moved several amendments and introduced new provisions to vest the commission with the power of a civil court.
• The Bill was passed and received accent of the President on 30th August 1990.
• The First Commission was constituted on 31st January 1992 with Mrs. Jayanti Patnaik as the Chairperson. The Second Commission was constituted on July 1995 with Dr. (Mrs.) Mohini Giri as the Chairperson. The Third Commission was constituted on January 1999 with Mrs. Vibha Parthasarathy as the Chairperson. The Fourth Commission was constituted on January 2002 and the government had nominated Dr. Poornima Advani as the Chairperson. The Fifth Commission has been constituted on February 2005 and the government has nominated Dr. Girija Vyas as the Chairperson.
  

• CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMISSION
  SECTION 3
  National Commission for Women Act, 1990
  (Act No. 20 of 1990 of Govt. of India)

• The Central Government shall constitute a body to be known as the National Commission for Women to exercise the powers conferred on and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act.

2. The Commission shall consist of :-

(a) A Chairperson, committed to the cause of women, to be nominated by the Central Government.

(b) five Members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing who have had experience in law or legislation, trade unionism, management of an industry potential of women, women’s voluntary organisations ( including women activist ), administration, economic development, health, education or social welfare;
Provided that at least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively;

(c) a Member-Secretary to be nominated by the Central Government who shall be :-

i. an expert in the field of management, organisational structure or sociological movement, or

ii. an officer who is a member of a civil service of the Union or of an all-India service or holds a civil post under the Union with appropriate experience.

Problem of violence against women is multifaceted.
NCW has adopted a Multi-Pronged strategy to tackle the problem:

• 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 Prelitigation services.
• Facilitating speedy delivery of justice to women by organizing Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats in different parts of the country.
• Review of the existing provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting women and recommending amendments thereto, any lacunae, inadequacies or short comings in such legislation's.
• Organizing promotional activities to mobilize women and get information about their status and recommend paradigm shift in the empowerment of women.
• Investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws;
• Review, from time to time, the exiting provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting women;
• take up cases of violation of the provisions of the Constitution and of other laws;
• look into complaints and take suo moto notice of matters;
• deprivation of women's rights;
• special studies or investigations into specific problems or situations arising out of discrimination and atrocities against women;
• undertake promotional and educational research so as to suggest ways of ensuring due representation of women in all spheres and identify factors responsible for impeding their advancement;
• advice on the planning process of socio-economic development of women;
• evaluate the progress of the development of women under the Union and any State;
• inspect or cause to inspected a jail,remand home,women's institution or other place of custody where women are kept as prisoners or otherwise and take up with the concerned authorities for remedial action, if found necessary;
• fund litigation involving issues affecting a large body of women.

Chairpersons of the Commission since it's inception

S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	Ms. Jayanti Patnaik	03.02.1992	30.01.1995
2.	Dr. V. Mohini Giri	21.07.1995	20.07.1998
3.	Ms. Vibha Parthasarathi	18.01.1999	17.01.2002
4.	Dr. Poornima Advani	25.01.2002	24.01.2005
5.	Dr. Girija Vyas	16.02.2005 09.04.2008	15.02.2008 till date