AS POWERLESS AS THE WOMEN IT FIGHTS FOR

The Punjab State Commission for Women Act, 2001, empowers the panel to advise the state government on laws, inadequacies and amendments in the interest of women, work as a custodian of their rights, better their status in society and prevent crimes against them.

In a state notorious for a poor sex ratio, runaway NRI grooms and patriarchy, the commission’s hands are full. It receives about 50 complaints daily. But the first proof of its importance, or the lack of it, is it operates from a ramshackle office on the fifth floor of a building where the aged and disabled cannot reach. It has a staff of four, budget of ₹70 lakh a year and the pendency just keeps piling up.

Till June 11 this year, the commission received 635 complaints and it has been able to settle only eight out of them. The reason: Police apathy when all 22 districts have a women cell.

“Be it domestic violence, rape, NRI grooms deserting wives or dowry, we need the police to investigate and file a status report. The women cell has to submit the report in a month. But we have to keep sending reminders.,” says Punjab Women Commission head Manisha Gulati.

Gulati says she holds court hearings twice a week and hears 25 cases on each day. “We need to visit women cells to sensitise them besides jails and rescue homes. The budget is gone in paying salaries to staff. We can’t hire without funds or hold any awareness drive,” she adds.

One of its roles is to undertake research on the status of women and advise the government, but this has not been done. SUKHDEEP KAUR

MANISHA GULATI, women’s commission chief If the police don’t act in time and a victim suffers harm, families lose faith in us